Reactions have continued to trail President Donald Trump of the United States’s threat of military action, with a cross section of Nigerians urging the administration of President Bola Tinubu to take immediate decisive action against terrorists.
This appeal comes after President Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC, and his accompanying threat to deploy American military forces over alleged large-scale persecution and killings of Christians.
It was reports that President Trump declared Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC, in response to allegations of widespread persecution and genocide against Christians.
Trump further threatened that he had asked the Defence Department to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria if the Nigerian government “continues to allow the killing of Christians”.
President Bola Tinubu, in response, stated that the characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant did not reflect the country’s national reality.
Tinubu equally stated that the characterisation failed to account for the government’s “consistent and sincere efforts to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also vowed that Nigeria would continue to fight violent extremism, while expressing hope that the US would remain a close ally in the fight.
Other countries and world leaders have risen in defence of Nigeria and cautioned Trump against any direct or indirect military action capable of destabilising the entire West African subregion.
ECOWAS strongly rejected what it called “these false and dangerous claims” that a “Christian genocide” is taking place in Nigeria and the West African region.
It also said terrorist-related violence did not discriminate based on gender, religion, ethnicity, or age.
In the same vein, The Chinese government has pledged its firm support to the President Bola Tinubu administration amid threats of military action by United States President Donald Trump.
Spokesperson of China’s foreign ministry, Mao Ning, said China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, and threatening other countries with sanctions and force.
“As Nigeria’s strategic partner, China opposes any attempt by foreign powers to use religion or human rights as a pretext to meddle in another country’s internal affairs or impose sanctions and military threats,” Ning said.
The EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Anouar El Anouni, stated that the union had “taken note” of the statements by the US administration but remained focused on supporting Nigeria’s stability through cooperation.
“We respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and constitutional commitment to religious neutrality. Our position is one of solidarity with Nigeria.
“Solidarity with the victims of violence, with the authorities working to protect citizens, and with the Nigerian people, who overwhelmingly desire peaceful coexistence beyond ethnic and religious divides,” he said.
While some Nigerians hailed Trump’s warning, saying it was the reflection of the longstanding realities in the country, others alleged that commentators were misrepresenting his message.
Speaking , Mr Anyebe Ekainu said too many innocent lives have been wasted in Nigeria, stressing that if President Trump intends to act, he should act now without further delay before no one is left anymore.
“We have had more than our fair share of bloodletting in this country. A lot of Christians have been killed, especially in Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, Adamawa and Taraba States. What about those killed in the church attack in Owo? The list is endless,” he said.
A social critic, Mike Divine, blasted analysts who according to him were taking President Trump’s statement out of context.
“Those arguing against Trump’s position should explain why Leah Sharibu of the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction is still missing till date.
“They should also explain the presence of the mass grave displayed by Plateau pastor Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, where scores of victims were buried. We are told that facts are sacred while comments are free,” he said.
Programme Director of CLEEN Foundation, Salaudeen Hashim, who also said, decried that it was the second time Nigeria is coming under the designation of ‘Country of Particular Concern’, describing it as an unfortunate stigmatization.
Hashim said that terrorism and insecurity do not select their victims, stating that It is very important to have people who can have strategic communication and offer the realities on ground.
He also lamented that Nigeria has not had diplomatic representation in most countries across the globe in the last two years, stressing that Nigeria’s diplomatic relationship has to be strengthened.
“Our diplomatic relationships need to be strengthened and we need to look at our foreign policy. It has not been getting us anywhere and we need to look into that.
“Also, we need to define our international interest, every country has what we call strategic national interest and sometimes it is not negotiable. What is our strategic national interest and I think it’s important for foreign affairs to make this clear.
“Finally, we have had terrorism charges going on, those who have been called perpetrators will need to deal with that very quickly and lastly, we need to step up our intelligence in target counter terrorism and prevent the occurrence of what is currently on ground,” he said.
Michael Akor stated that Donald Trump’s recent statement to intervene in the ceaseless insecurity in Nigeria, with specific reference to Christians genocide is a welcome development.
“As a concerned citizen of Nigeria whose major passion is to witness a country devoid of acrimonies, restiveness, banditry and extremism, I deem it as an answered prayer.
“Nigeria is of course , a sovereign nation, but sovereignty doesn’t mean total absence of interference by a more sovereign Nation. When the sovereignty of a nation becomes shaky, concerned nations can help in restoring solidity and balance to her sovereignty,” he said.
Ibrahim Mohammed also welcomed the idea so as to nip insecurity in the bud permanently from Nigeria.
“It’s really denigrating that a supposed giant of Africa (Nigeria) has continued to remain trapped in the fangs of religious genocide, banditry, tribal unrest, kidnapping and other forms of maimings.
“It’s even heart-aching that these grievous mishaps inflicted on innocent citizens are usually trivialized and politicized, hence successive governments have continued to allow them to look like normal fates or deserved happenings in Nigeria.
“The sighs of the average citizens who are victims of these heinous crimes against humanity are always given cold shoulders by Nigerian leaders, since they are well armed with security agents that shield them and their family members from falling as victims like the common citizens,” he lamented.
In the same vein, Abdul Rahman said since Nigerian leaders have failed to curb the menace, the intervention of external bodies becomes pertinent, adding that this makes the planned intervention of the US President, Donald Trump a good step in the right direction.
“Donald Trump’s statement which tagged Nigeria as a nation of concern, is a big slap on the faces of our leaders. This exposes them as weak and sterile leaders. If I were them, I would bury my head in shame.
“This genocide has continued unabated for donkey years, yet no proactive and decisive steps from our leaders to truncate it. The best our leaders always do is to release press statements condemning a genocide, then they go and sleep and wait for another attack to release another toothless press statement condemning the attacks.
“The obvious lackadaisical and careless attitudes our leaders have continued to display in the face of such grievous crimes against humanity, are enough to stair the intervention of external bodies, lest Nigerians wake up one day and realize that more than half of the citizens have been wiped out by the pampered marauders,” he said.
According to Anthony Ameh, “Since Donald Trump issued this important warning, a lot of people in the political circles have been fidgeting and devising defensive tactics to condemn Trump.
“Appallingly worrisome is the recent protest by some groups in the Northern part of the country, as a resistance to any possible intervention of the US.
“The likes of Sheik Gumi have continued to speak against the planned intervention, insisting that Trump shouldn’t intervene.
“Why are they this desperate? It is of course due to the fact that their hands are not clean. If the government is serious, the likes of Sheik Gumi, the protesters and other suspected supporters of these extremisms ought to be arrested.
“The intervention of Trump is good. Anybody opposing the idea is probably a suspect, because I see no reason why a sane Nigerian would resist assistance to solve a problem that has lingered for donkey years without any sign of solution from our government.
“Some of them claim that Nigeria is a sovereign nation, hence another nation is not supposed to interfere in her issue, but the same Nigeria receives aid from US China, and other nations during economic quagmires and other emergencies such as disease outbreak. We should stop playing hanky panky games with serious national issues.”
On his part, Joseph Adah welcomed the threat of the US president, saying Nigeria’s poor masses are helpless at this point.
“Donald Trump’s “invasion of Nigeria” is a welcome idea that thousands of Nigerians will be happy about and of course, are eagerly waiting to see the reality of it,” he said.
Speaking, Emmanuel Ucha said the killing of innocent Nigerians has been going on for years.
He said, “Truth be told, the terrorism activities in Nigeria seem to have overpowered the Nigerian Government; therefore, the need for Trump to intervene and end the criminal activities against humanity a permanent end will be most cherished.”
Also speaking, Felix Sunday said the activities of the assailants are connected to those in authority, hence, the lingering nature of crises.
“The criminal activities of terrorism in Nigeria are perceived to have a deep connection with some leaders and that’s why some terrorists’ activities are carried out openly.
“The government of the day unfortunately is giving deaf ears to such serious cases, either for political reasons or reasons that are known to them at the detriment of helpless Nigerians and the activities keep going on unquestioned.
“An example of such a scenario is where a fellow Nigerian will be advising the Nigerian Government to ‘allow the terrorists to guard Nigerian forest in order for peace to reign’.
“This means the individual knows the terrorists and has serious business with the terrorists. Still, such fellows walk freely without being questioned. Therefore, foreign intervention is highly required,” he stated.
Chibueze Obi also welcomed the proposed invasion by President Donald J Trump, stressing that it’s a welcome development that will put an end to the criminal activities of terrorism in Nigeria, as well as their sponsors.
“Let’s not be deceived that Trump wants to wage war against Nigeria.
“It’s not a war against Nigeria as a country but against the terrorists and their sponsors in Nigeria,” he stated.
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