The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday convened an emergency meeting with service chiefs and heads of security and intelligence agencies at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Abuja to assess the implications of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statement on Nigeria.
According to reports, the meeting aimed to coordinate a unified response among Nigeria’s defence and intelligence institutions while reviewing intelligence assessments of the potential consequences of Trump’s pronouncement.
“The meeting is focused on impact assessment, contingency planning, and reinforcing Nigeria’s sovereignty in light of the statement attributed to the U.S. president,” a source told counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama.
Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, said after the meeting that the Office of the NSA and top security chiefs will brief the press on Monday. He described the U.S. President’s claims as false and a failure of American intelligence.
Issa-Onilu added that the Federal Government remains committed to fighting terrorism and urged responsible media reporting on security issues. He said the NSA briefing will provide additional details and reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to religious harmony.
On Friday, Trump designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern, citing what he described as ongoing violence against Christians and the failure of the government to protect religious minorities. Hours later, he declared that the United States military might come “gun-blazing” into Nigeria.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump said. “I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians,” he added.
Responding, President Tinubu reaffirmed that Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty. He noted that since 2023 the administration has maintained open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges affecting citizens across faiths and regions.
Tinubu described Trump’s remarks as a mischaracterisation of Nigeria’s religious landscape and stressed that such claims do not reflect the country’s diversity or the government’s ongoing efforts to promote peaceful coexistence. “The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and belief for all Nigerians,” the President said.
He emphasised that religious freedom and tolerance are core to Nigeria’s identity and reiterated that the country opposes religious persecution. Tinubu reiterated his commitment to diplomacy and said the administration is committed to working with the United States and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protecting communities of all faiths.
Despite these reassurances, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that U.S. military action in Nigeria remained on the table. When asked whether he envisioned “troops on the ground or air strikes in Nigeria,” he replied: “Could be. I mean, other things. I envisage a lot of things. They’re killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria … They’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen.”
