There was heightened tension in Abuja on Monday as the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, held an emergency security meeting with service chiefs following a threat by United States President Donald Trump to launch military action in Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians.
Top security sources told PLATFORM TIMES that the closed-door session, held at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), was convened to assess the diplomatic and security fallout of Trump’s remarks and to coordinate a unified national response.
The meeting, which brought together heads of the Armed Forces and intelligence agencies, focused on “impact assessment, contingency planning, and reinforcing Nigeria’s sovereignty,” one security official disclosed.
“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 senior security source told counter-insurgency analyst Zagazola Makama.
Trump, in a statement late Saturday, accused the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to attacks on Christians and warned that American forces were being prepared to intervene.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and… may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing’,” Trump said, insisting the U.S. military was ready to act “fast, vicious and sweet.”
His comments sparked alarm in diplomatic circles across West Africa and prompted swift pushback from the Nigerian government.
Tinubu Counters Trump: ‘Nigeria Is a Democracy, Not a War Zone’
President Bola Tinubu dismissed Trump’s claims as a gross misrepresentation of Nigeria’s religious climate, stressing that the constitution guarantees equal rights to all faiths.
Tinubu insisted his administration had consistently engaged religious leaders and continued to invest in security operations across affected communities.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” the president said.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so.”
He added that Nigeria would work with the U.S. and global partners to strengthen peace efforts, but emphasised the nation’s sovereignty.
Presidential aide Daniel Bwala also dismissed the possibility of unilateral American action, stating the U.S. “cannot conduct any military operation in Nigeria without the President’s express approval.”
Despite Nigeria’s diplomatic tone, Trump doubled down. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, he suggested possible “troops on the ground or air strikes” in Nigeria, claiming Christians were being killed “in record numbers.”
“We’re not going to allow that to happen,” he said.
The NSA’s office is expected to release a formal communiqué outlining Nigeria’s national security stance and next steps as global attention intensifies.
Diplomatic analysts warn that Trump’s comments, if escalated, could trigger a major diplomatic standoff between Abuja and Washington and inflame sectarian tensions domestically.
The presidency, however, maintained that Nigeria remains committed to diplomacy, unity and religious harmony.
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