There are strong indications that President Bola Tinubu and former U.S. President Donald Trump will soon meet to discuss concerns raised by Trump over alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria.
Trump had, in a post on his Truth Social platform last Friday, accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians, describing the situation as a “genocide” and tagging Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC).” He alleged that radical Islamists were responsible for what he called a “mass slaughter” and urged U.S. lawmakers to investigate the situation.
In response, President Tinubu dismissed Trump’s claims, insisting that Nigeria remains a nation founded on religious freedom and tolerance. He stated that the portrayal of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect reality.
On his official handle @officialPBAT, Tinubu said:
“Since 2023, our 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. The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality. Religious freedom and tolerance are core tenets of our collective identity and shall always remain so.”
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s constitutional commitment to protect citizens of all faiths, stressing that his administration would continue to work with the United States and the international community to promote mutual understanding and protect all religious communities.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has confirmed that plans are underway for a meeting between Tinubu and Trump to address differences in perception regarding terrorism and religious violence in Nigeria.
Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, disclosed via his X handle @BwalaDaniel that both leaders share a strong commitment to fighting insurgency and terrorism globally.
He wrote: “Both President @officialABAT and President @realDonaldTrump have a shared interest in the fight against insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity. President Trump assisted Nigeria by authorizing the sale of arms, and President Tinubu has effectively utilized that opportunity in combating terrorism with significant results to show.”
Bwala added that the leaders would discuss “whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or attack people of all faiths and no faiths,” during their upcoming meeting, which could hold either at the State House, Abuja, or the White House, Washington D.C.
This will not be the first time Trump has accused the Nigerian government of persecuting Christians. During a 2018 White House meeting with the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Trump had reportedly questioned:
“Why are you killing Christians? I won’t tolerate it any longer.”
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