Tinubu To Meet Trump Over Christian Genocide Claims

The Presidency says President Bola Tinubu is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump to address growing tensions over allegations of Christian killings in Nigeria.

Presidential adviser on policy communication, Daniel Bwala, disclosed this on Sunday, saying both leaders could meet either at the State House in Abuja or the White House in Washington to discuss the issue.

Bwala noted that the talks would focus on whether attacks by terrorists and criminal groups in Nigeria were religiously motivated or affected all citizens regardless of faith. He also praised Trump’s past support for Nigeria’s anti-terrorism efforts, including authorising the sale of arms to the country.

He said the two leaders share a common goal of ending violent extremism worldwide and would use the meeting to clear misconceptions about Nigeria’s internal security challenges.

Tinubu had earlier rejected the U.S. designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” insisting that the country remains a democracy that guarantees freedom of religion and belief for all citizens.

Meanwhile, former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso urged the U.S. to assist Nigeria with technology and intelligence-sharing to fight insecurity instead of issuing divisive statements.

He described Trump’s comments as misleading, saying Nigeria’s security problems affect both Christians and Muslims and are not based on religion.

Also reacting, Chief Martin Onovo of the National Conscience Party called for decisive national action against insecurity, stressing that the government must show political will to end terrorism and violence.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria Wahab Shittu advised Tinubu to lead a diplomatic delegation to the U.S. to prevent escalation, while the National Patriotic Elders for Peace and Harmony warned Washington against any military action, saying the genocide claims were false.

Security expert Abayomi Nurain Mumuni also urged Trump to reconsider his position, noting that Nigeria’s violence is driven by cross-border terrorists, not religious hostility.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Sule Lamido described Trump’s war threat as dangerous and urged Tinubu to convene a meeting with past Nigerian leaders to find a diplomatic way out of the crisis.