President Bola Tinubu has announced that his administration is holding diplomatic engagements with several international partners following recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened possible military intervention in Nigeria over alleged large-scale killings of Christians.
Speaking through a statement from the Presidency on Thursday, Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria remains a sovereign nation and will address any security concerns through lawful and collaborative means.
He noted that while his government welcomes global cooperation against terrorism, any form of external aggression or interference would be unacceptable.“We are in active communication with our foreign allies to ensure that misunderstandings do not escalate into unnecessary conflict,” the statement said. “Nigeria is committed to the protection of all citizens regardless of religion or ethnicity, and our counterterrorism operations reflect this priority.”
The president’s remarks come amid heightened tensions following Trump’s claims that “Christian genocide” was taking place in parts of northern Nigeria, a statement that sparked outrage and concern both domestically and internationally.
Meanwhile, northern political and religious leaders have rejected calls by some Western advocacy groups to ban Sharia law, describing such moves as an attack on the region’s cultural and religious identity.In a joint communiqué released after a consultative meeting in Kaduna, the leaders stated that Sharia remains an integral part of the Muslim faith and operates within Nigeria’s constitutional framework.
They urged the federal government to resist external pressure that could destabilize the country’s fragile unity.The development marks a new phase in Nigeria’s diplomatic and security discourse, as the Tinubu administration seeks to balance internal religious sensitivities with growing international scrutiny over human rights and religious freedom.