Nigeria has expressed openness to U.S. assistance in combating Islamist insurgents, provided its sovereignty is respected. The response came after former U.S. President Donald Trump warned of possible military action, accusing Nigeria of persecuting Christians.
Daniel Bwala, adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, told Reuters that Nigeria “welcomes U.S. assistance as long as it recognizes our territorial integrity.” Despite Trump labeling Nigeria a “disgraced country,” Bwala dismissed the remarks, saying Trump “thinks well of Nigeria” and that cooperation between the two nations could strengthen efforts against terrorism.
Nigeria has battled Islamist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) for over 15 years, particularly in the Muslim-majority northeast. While Christians have suffered attacks, analysts note that most victims have been Muslims. Conflicts in central regions also pit Muslim herders against Christian farmers, while bandit gangs terrorize the northwest.
Bwala rejected claims of religious persecution, asserting that “Nigeria does not discriminate against any tribe or religion in fighting insecurity.” According to Ladd Serwat of the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), insurgent violence in Nigeria often targets entire communities rather than specific religious groups. ACLED data show that out of nearly 1,923 civilian attacks this year, only 50 were directed at Christians for their faith.
Trump’s comments followed Nigeria’s return to the U.S. “Countries of Particular Concern” list for alleged religious freedom violations. Tinubu, a Muslim married to a Christian pastor, defended Nigeria’s record, emphasizing balanced representation in government and military appointments.
While some Nigerian Christians voiced support for U.S. intervention, analysts warned that potential American strikes would face logistical challenges given the militants’ mobility across Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.


Ohio Man Indicted for Alleged Threat Against Vice President JD Vance, Faces Additional Federal Charges
Netanyahu to Meet Trump in Washington as Iran Nuclear Talks Intensify
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal
Antonio José Seguro Poised for Landslide Win in Portugal Presidential Runoff
China Warns US Arms Sales to Taiwan Could Disrupt Trump’s Planned Visit
Jack Lang Resigns as Head of Arab World Institute Amid Epstein Controversy
US Pushes Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Before Summer Amid Escalating Attacks
Bangladesh Election 2026: A Turning Point After Years of Political Suppression
Trump Says “Very Good Talks” Underway on Russia-Ukraine War as Peace Efforts Continue
Japan Election 2026: Sanae Takaichi Poised for Landslide Win Despite Record Snowfall
Ghislaine Maxwell to Invoke Fifth Amendment at House Oversight Committee Deposition
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Secures Historic Election Win, Shaking Markets and Regional Politics
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape
Sydney Braces for Pro-Palestine Protests During Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s Visit
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out
Taiwan Says Moving 40% of Semiconductor Production to the U.S. Is Impossible
Nicaragua Ends Visa-Free Entry for Cubans, Disrupting Key Migration Route to the U.S. 



