Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday convened an emergency meeting with the service chiefs and heads of security and intelligence agencies at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Abuja, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statement suggesting possible military action in Nigeria.
According to top security sources, the high-level meeting, which began Monday afternoon, was called to assess the implications of Trump’s comments accusing the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from Islamist militants.
Trump, speaking late Saturday, claimed that the U.S. military was being “prepared to act in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militancy,” a remark that has triggered concern within diplomatic and security circles in Abuja and across West Africa.
Sources said the meeting aimed to coordinate a unified response among Nigeria’s defence and intelligence institutions while reviewing intelligence assessments on the potential fallout of Trump’s comments.
“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 source told counterinsurgency analyst Zagazola Makama.
The development comes as Daniel Bwala, an aide to President Bola Tinubu, maintained that the United States could not undertake any military operation in Nigeria without the President’s express approval.
Meanwhile, the controversy has generated ripples across the region. The Nigerian government has firmly rejected claims of religious persecution, with President Tinubu stressing that the nation’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion and equality for all citizens.
Following Tinubu’s clarification, Trump doubled down, declaring that the U.S. military might go “guns blazing” into Nigeria if the killings of Christians continue.
“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, to wipe out Islamic terrorists,” Trump said.
“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 terrorists attack our cherished Christians,” he added.
Responding, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to democratic values and religious liberty.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious freedom,” he said, emphasising that his administration has maintained active engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders since 2023.
Tinubu described Trump’s remarks as a “mischaracterisation” of Nigeria’s religious reality, noting that they ignore ongoing government efforts to promote peaceful coexistence.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality nor our government’s sincere efforts to safeguard freedom of belief for all Nigerians,” he said.
“Religious freedom and tolerance remain core tenets of our national identity. Nigeria opposes all forms of religious persecution.”
Reiterating his commitment to diplomacy, Tinubu added that Nigeria would continue to work with the U.S. and other international partners to deepen cooperation in protecting communities of all faiths.
Despite Nigeria’s reassurances, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that military action in Nigeria “remained on the table.”
When asked whether this could include troops on the ground or airstrikes, he said:
“Could be. I envisage a lot of things. They’re killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria … We’re not going to allow that to happen.”
The Office of the National Security Adviser is expected to issue a formal statement outlining Nigeria’s coordinated national security position and next steps to safeguard its sovereignty amid the escalating diplomatic tension.
