Senior Advocates of Nigeria have faulted the threat by United States President, Donald Trump, to deploy American troops to Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians, saying such a move would amount to an invasion and a violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty under international law.
On Friday, Trump designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged Christian genocide, and followed with the threat to send US troops to wipe out Islamic terrorists killing Christians in Nigeria.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. 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,” Trump declared on Saturday, November 1.
Reacting to the controversy, constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), said any form of foreign military intervention without the consent of Nigeria’s government would be an “act of aggression.”
“They can only move in with the consent of our government.
They can’t move in by themselves. If they do, it will amount to an act of aggression, which is a capital offence in international law,” Sagay said.
Similarly, Adedayo Adedeji (SAN) underscored that under international law, every state retains the right to independence and territorial control without external interference.
“In international law, each state has the fundamental right to independence and to exercise full legal power within its territory, free from external dictation,” Adedeji said.
He explained that while cooperation in counterterrorism was legitimate, any unilateral military action by the U.S. would be unacceptable.
“The United States cannot just come into Nigeria to fight alleged cases of Christian genocide. This does not remove the need for collaboration between Nigeria and other countries to fight terrorism, which is a global problem,” he added.
Adedeji also dismissed claims of any ongoing “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, saying,
“Contrary to the news making the rounds, I don’t think we have anything like Christian genocide in Nigeria.”
However, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) described the alleged killings as deeply troubling, noting that the Federal Government must put a stop to avoid external intervention.
“I don’t know under which law they are saying it, but if the killings of Christians continue and the government of Nigeria does not stop it, then a stronger nation can step in. This is the way I look at it,” he said.
Ahamba emphasised that any intervention must be invited by Nigeria.
“If any country goes into another country to fight, it’s an invasion. It’s always better for a country to be invited to do so. If they don’t, and they know that something wrong is happening, what happened in Iraq can happen.”
In his own reaction, Lagos-based lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, described Trump’s threat as baseless and hypocritical, arguing that it contradicts the U.S. president’s “America First” ideology.
“This is Trump, who is pulling back from engaging with the world, who is talking about not funding other countries, imposing punishing tariffs, and preventing immigrants from coming to America. If his presidency says America is looking inwards, what then captures America’s interest in Nigeria?” Ogunye asked.
He questioned Trump’s motives, suggesting that the renewed interest in Nigeria could be tied to economic and strategic interests rather than humanitarian concern.
“It’s not far-fetched that if such wishes were achieved, Nigeria’s oil, lithium, and gold could be taken to pay for the so-called protection,” Ogunye said.
The lawyer urged the Tinubu administration to focus on resolving Nigeria’s internal security challenges, particularly the recurring farmer-herder conflicts in the Middle Belt and other parts of the country.
“Let Tinubu’s administration sort out the internal security situation. In Benue and Plateau, go there and address the crisis. Those who claim to be herdsmen should return to their original places. The era of roaming cattle is over,” he said.
Ogunye added that respecting established state boundaries and promoting ranching would help end the persistent clashes.
“You cannot come from one state and invade another and claim it as a new settlement. The Usman Dan Fodio era is over, the Oyo Empire is over. Respect those boundaries,” he said.
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