Abuja — The Nigerian government, under President Bola Tinubu, has publicly blamed former U.S. President Donald Trump for a spike in terrorist activity across the country, accusing him of “stoking violence” with his recent threats of military intervention. Dalena Reporters has learned that the administration believes Trump’s declarations embolden militant groups, portraying them as backed by foreign sponsors.
According to government insiders, the backlash stems from Trump’s outspoken warnings that the U.S. might use force in Nigeria over alleged “genocide” against Christians. In response, Tinubu’s administration summoned foreign diplomats to Abuja, arguing that Trump’s remarks undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and risk turning the country’s security crisis into a geopolitical confrontation.
Tinubu, through his Information Ministry, described Trump’s framing of the situation as a “threat” rather than a genuine expression of concern. His spokespeople maintain that his government has already strengthened the military hierarchy — appointing new service chiefs before Trump’s threats — and is committed to fighting terrorism without foreign aggression.
In addition, Tinubu’s government is pushing for broader international cooperation in counterterrorism. The president, according to his office, has “urged allies to stand firmly with Nigeria” as it battles Islamist insurgency, while emphasizing that external help must respect Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
The tensions are further amplified by criticism from domestic figures. Gani Adams, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, warned that armed militants are “waiting for a signal from foreign sponsors” to intensify coordinated attacks, calling Trump’s intervention talk “a double-edged sword.
On the diplomatic front, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar has publicly rejected Trump’s narrative, stating that state-sponsored religious persecution is impossible under Nigerian law given the nation’s constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
The evolving standoff underscores how internal security challenges in Nigeria are increasingly intersecting with international political dynamics — raising the risk that counterterrorism may become entangled with geopolitical power plays.