When we first red the words of President Donald Trump on social media over the weekend that he may send U.S troops into Nigeria over what he described as “Christian killings” in this country, we felt more than surprise. We felt the sharp pang of a violation, not only of facts, but of our dignity as a sovereign nation.
We are saying this as plainly as possible: yes, Nigeria suffers insecurity. But no, we do not live under a campaign of targeted genocide against Christians. Violence in Nigeria is not shaped by faith alone. It is shaped by geography, by poverty, by criminal networks, and by terror groups who kill indiscriminately both Christians and Muslims, infact more Muslims have been killed by these groups than Christians.
When a foreign power threatens invasion or military action on behalf of one religious group, we must see it not as defence, but as interference. It risks dividing us further, weakening our national resolve, and eroding the principle that no external actor takes orders from a sovereign that will not give them. In that moment, we must remind ourselves: we are Nigerians first. United in diversity. Bound by shared citizenship.
President Trump has claimed there are “record numbers of Christians being killed in Nigeria,” suggesting U.S. military action could follow unless those “killings” stop. He even placed Nigeria once more on the so-called “Countries of Particular Concern” list, citing alleged religious freedom violations. When violence occurs in northern or central Nigeria, it may strike Christian communities, especially in mixed-religion zones, but the pattern is not one of religious extermination. It is instead a pattern of insecurity that fails us all. It undermines farmers, destroys villages, displaces families and leaves both Christians and Muslims reeling in pain and anguish.
We must state clearly: Nigeria is a sovereign state. We do not take orders from another sovereign, whether in rhetoric or in action. If any foreign leader believes that military operations can simply be imposed on Nigeria because of alleged human rights violations, then that undermines our constitutional independence. If the U.S. has concerns about religious freedom or violence, there are diplomatic channels, partnership frameworks, multilateral mechanisms. But they do not extend to invading a country under the banner of defence of one religious group. That is dangerous. It could set a precedent not just for Nigeria, but for all nations.
We also must remember: the United States itself faces severe internal challenges. Gun violence, domestic terrorism, civil unrest, fracturing communities etc. These are real issues within its own borders. It is somewhat ironic to issue threats of military intervention abroad while your own soil is grappling with violence. Perhaps America should look inward and address its challenges before brandishing threats against another country.
That said, we cannot dismiss the reality: Nigeria does face a ravaging insecurity crisis. Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits, kidnappers, ethno-communal violence etc. These are real and they harm people, regardless of faith. We must acknowledge that the government, security forces, civil society and citizens are striving every day to curb the carnage.
There are efforts under way: military operations in the northeast, patrols in rural communities, peace-building dialogues, policing reforms, attempts at disarmament, investment in local conflict resolution mechanisms and coordination with international partners who support not through threats, but through capacity-building.
We must support that. We must urge it. Because while external threats of invasion are misguided, internal reform is both necessary and urgent. Our leaders must be held accountable. Our security architecture must be improved. Our communities must heal.
In this moment of tension, Nigerians must resist the temptation to divide along religious lines. We must reject false narratives that places Christians against Muslims or one region against another. Such division plays into the hands of violent actors which are the terrorists, the extremists, the opportunists, who thrive in fragmentation.
Let us instead remind ourselves of who we are: a country of over 200 million people, with many faiths and ethnicities, united by a shared aspiration for peace, security and development. When we say “security for all,” we mean every Nigerian, regardless of faith or tribe.
When foreign voices threaten intervention in the name of one group, we should see that as a call not to turn inward in anger alone, but to stand outward in solidarity. We must also call on our leaders to continue to fight insurgency, modernise our security forces, ensure justice for victims, invest in community protection and reform local governance. Let our security strategy be shaped by Nigerians first, with Nigerian consent, not by pressure applied from beyond our borders.
Conclusively, let us not celebrate the absurd idea that an American leader might invade our land for alleged failures that do not reflect the full picture. That kind of rhetoric divides more than it heals.
Instead, let us affirm our unity. Let us work harder to build a security architecture that protects all Nigerians. Let us demand good governance, efficient security service, and genuine justice. Let us resist external coercion, and stand tall under our own flag.
May we remain one people, one nation, committed to peace, justice and greater destiny under God Almighty.
Dr. Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu, President, Northern Consensus Movement for peace unity empowerment and Development initiative. NSNCM.
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