President Bola Tinubu is set to meet with former United States President Donald Trump in the coming days to discuss allegations of widespread killings of Christians in Nigeria.
The planned meeting comes after Trump accused the Nigerian government of ignoring attacks against Christians and threatened possible military action if the violence continues.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, confirmed the upcoming talks in a statement on Saturday. He said the meeting would address terrorism in Nigeria and seek to clarify misunderstandings surrounding religious violence in the country.
Bwala noted that both leaders share common ground in their fight against terrorism and that cooperation between Nigeria and the United States would be strengthened. He explained that Trump had previously supported Nigeria by approving arms sales to help in the battle against insurgents, a move Tinubu has reportedly built upon with improved results.
Trump’s warning followed recent claims by a U.S. congressman, Riley Moore, who accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians. Moore had described Nigeria as the deadliest country in the world for Christians and urged Washington to suspend military aid until the Nigerian authorities take action.
In response to the growing pressure, Trump announced that Nigeria had been placed on a “country of particular concern” list and directed the U.S. Department of Defense to prepare for possible intervention if the alleged attacks continue.
He warned that if the Nigerian government does not act, the United States may withdraw all forms of assistance and launch a direct military operation against terrorist groups accused of the killings.
Despite these threats, the Nigerian presidency has maintained that terrorist attacks in the country affect citizens of all religions and are not targeted solely at Christians.
The upcoming meeting between Tinubu and Trump is expected to focus on strengthening counterterrorism cooperation and clearing misconceptions surrounding religious violence in Nigeria.