Nigeria Says U.S. Help Against Islamist Insurgents Must Respect Its Sovereignty

Post by : Saif Nasser

Nigeria has said that it welcomes help from the United States to fight Islamist insurgents, but such assistance must respect the country’s sovereignty and independence. The statement came after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that he might order military action in Nigeria over what he called the “killing of Christians.”

Speaking to Reuters on Sunday, Daniel Bwala, an adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, said that Nigeria is open to cooperation with the U.S. but cannot allow any actions that ignore its territorial integrity. “We welcome U.S. assistance as long as it recognizes our territorial integrity,” he said.

Trump, while speaking aboard Air Force One, said that he had instructed the U.S. Defense Department to prepare for possible “fast” military operations in Nigeria if the government fails to protect Christians. He mentioned that American troops or airstrikes “could be” used but did not give more details.

Despite Trump’s sharp remarks, which included calling Nigeria a “disgraced country,” Bwala tried to ease tensions between the two nations. “We don’t take it literally, because we know Donald Trump thinks well of Nigeria,” he said, expressing confidence that direct talks between the leaders could lead to “better outcomes” in the joint fight against terrorism.

For more than 15 years, Nigeria has been battling Islamist insurgent groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province. These groups have caused immense suffering, mainly in the country’s northeast, killing thousands and displacing millions. Although both Christian and Muslim communities have suffered, analysts say that most of the victims have been Muslims.

Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million people and more than 200 ethnic groups, is roughly divided between a Muslim-majority north and a Christian-majority south. The religious divide, along with disputes over land and political power, has often fueled tension and violence.

Ladd Serwat, a senior analyst at the U.S.-based conflict monitoring organization ACLED, said that Islamist violence in Nigeria is not limited to one religion. “Insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa often present their campaigns as anti-Christian, but in practice, their violence is indiscriminate and devastates entire communities,” he said.

According to ACLED data, there have been nearly 1,923 attacks on civilians in Nigeria this year, but only 50 of those were confirmed as being directly targeted at Christians for their religion. Serwat added that claims circulating in U.S. political circles — saying that as many as 100,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2009 — are not supported by reliable data.

The Nigerian government strongly denies accusations of religious discrimination. Bwala stressed that the country “does not discriminate against any tribe or religion in the fight against insecurity.” He added, “There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria.”

Trump’s comments came a day after his administration placed Nigeria back on the U.S. list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” which includes nations accused of violating religious freedoms. Other countries on the list include China, Russia, Myanmar, Pakistan, and North Korea.

President Tinubu, who is a Muslim and married to a Christian pastor, has rejected any suggestion that his administration tolerates religious intolerance. He pointed out that Nigeria’s government tries to maintain balance between faiths when making major appointments. Just last week, Tinubu reshuffled the military leadership and appointed a Christian as the new defense chief to reflect national diversity.

In the capital city of Abuja, reactions among Christians were mixed. Some churchgoers welcomed Trump’s offer of military help. “If Donald Trump said they want to come in, they should come in and there is nothing wrong with that,” said Juliet Sur, a local businesswoman, as she headed to Sunday Mass.

Security experts, however, warned that direct U.S. military involvement in Nigeria would be complex. They explained that any American airstrikes would likely have to target small, scattered militant groups spread across vast and difficult terrain. The task is further complicated by the fact that the U.S. withdrew its military forces from neighboring Niger last year, reducing its presence in the region.

Experts also noted that militants frequently move between Nigeria and neighboring countries like Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, making it hard to conduct targeted attacks without strong coordination with local forces. If the U.S. plans to act militarily, it would still need Nigeria’s approval and cooperation — something Trump’s threat seems to overlook.

While the Nigerian government appreciates U.S. concern for human rights and religious freedom, it insists that no foreign power should interfere without its consent. President Tinubu’s administration says that fighting terrorism is a shared goal, but it must be done in a way that protects Nigeria’s national dignity and independence.

As the debate continues, the people of Nigeria remain caught in the middle of political tensions and ongoing violence. Villages in the northeast continue to face attacks, and many communities — both Muslim and Christian — live in fear of extremists. For them, peace and safety are more important than global arguments about sovereignty or foreign intervention.

The coming days may determine whether Washington and Abuja can find common ground. Both nations share a long history of cooperation, but any future partnership will depend on mutual respect — and a shared understanding that peace in Nigeria cannot be imposed from the outside.