The Presidency has confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will meet with his United States counterpart, Donald J. Trump, in the coming days to discuss the recent allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, following Trump’s comments accusing the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to attacks on Christians.
Bwala said the meeting will focus on strengthening counterterrorism cooperation between both nations and clarifying what he described as “misconceptions about the nature of terrorist attacks in Nigeria.”
“Both President @officialABAT and President @realDonaldTrump have shared interests in the fight against insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity,” Bwala wrote on his X handle.
“President Trump has assisted Nigeria a lot by authorising the sale of arms, and President Tinubu has adequately utilised that opportunity in the fight against terrorism, with massive results to show for it.
“As for the differences as to whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or all faiths, those would be discussed and resolved by the two leaders when they meet in the coming days, either in the State House or the White House.”
The development follows Trump’s declaration on Friday designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution and killings of Christians in the country.
In his statement on Truth Social, Trump alleged that “thousands of Christians” were being killed by radical Islamist groups, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to act. He directed key U.S. lawmakers, including Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, to investigate the matter and report back to him.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern,’” Trump said.
Trump further escalated his comments on Saturday, warning that the United States could suspend aid to Nigeria and possibly take military action if the killings persist.
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” he wrote.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians,” Trump added.
The former U.S. president’s remarks have stirred global attention, with international observers warning that such rhetoric could heighten diplomatic tensions.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly denied allegations of religiously targeted violence, insisting that terrorism in the country affects people of all faiths.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.