President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed that Nigeria will not back down in its fight against terrorism, even as tensions rise between Abuja and Washington over allegations of Christian persecution in the country.
Speaking at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja after swearing in two new ministers, Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria remains determined to defeat terrorism and will continue diplomatic engagement with global partners despite “political headwinds.”
> “We will defeat terrorism in our country,” the president said. “Despite challenges and fears, Nigeria will continue to engage with partners to secure lasting peace.”
The United States, meanwhile, is reportedly weighing several military options — including potential airstrikes on militant compounds in northern Nigeria — as part of a broader strategy to curb violence allegedly targeting Christian communities.
According to The New York Times, U.S. defence officials under President Donald Trump have drawn up multiple plans, ranging from drone operations and joint raids with Nigerian forces to a possible deployment of an aircraft carrier group in the Gulf of Guinea. However, military experts warned such moves could “cause shock and awe but not much more,” citing Nigeria’s complex internal conflicts rooted in land disputes, corruption, and insurgency.
Tinubu dismissed the claims of religious persecution as exaggerated, stressing that both Muslims and Christians have suffered from terrorism and banditry.
> “Violence in affected regions is not a state-backed campaign against Christians. It’s driven by banditry and insecurity that cuts across faiths,” Nigerian officials reiterated.
Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, assured Nigerians that the federal government was responding “decisively and responsibly” to all security concerns and urged calm.
> “There is no panic mode here,” he said. “The government is stable, the president is calm, and security agencies are actively addressing the situation.”
Meanwhile, former presidential aide Hakeem Baba-Ahmed urged Tinubu to personally address the nation regarding the U.S. military threat, saying the president’s silence “sends a disturbing message.”
> “Tinubu must speak directly to Nigerians and clarify our position. Silence makes us appear weak,” Baba-Ahmed said.
In a related development, a new U.S. Congress resolution has proposed visa bans and asset freezes on members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, accusing them of severe violations of religious freedom.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Smith Christopher, also lists “Fulani-Ethnic Militias” operating in Benue and Plateau states as Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz backed the move, promising to hold Nigerian officials accountable for alleged Christian persecution.
However, a coalition of civil society groups in Nigeria condemned Trump’s military threat, describing it as “an affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and democracy.”
> “Religious diversity is one of Nigeria’s greatest strengths. The narrative that Nigeria persecutes Christians is false,” the coalition said, arguing that the country’s security challenges stem from poverty and extremism, not government-backed religious bias.
Nigeria, the group insisted, remains a democracy committed to protecting the rights of all faiths while maintaining its sovereignty and dignity.
