Tinubu, Trump To Meet ‘In Coming Days’ Over Claims Of Christian Genocide
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President Bola Tinubu is expected to meet United States President Donald Trump in the coming days to discuss recent allegations of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, the presidency said.
In a post on X, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, said the meeting would address differences in perception over whether violent extremists in Nigeria target Christians alone or people of all faiths. He said the encounter could take place either at the State House in Abuja or at the White House in Washington.
Bwala emphasised the shared commitment of both leaders to combating insurgency and terrorism and noted that Mr Trump had supported Nigeria by authorising the sale of arms. “President Trump has assisted Nigeria a lot by authorising the sale of arms to Nigeria, and President Tinubu has adequately utilised the opportunity in the fight against terrorism, for which we have massive results to show,” he said.
The presidential aide said the planned meeting would offer a forum to reconcile differing views on whether terrorists in Nigeria single out Christians or attack citizens irrespective of faith. “Both President Bola Tinubu and President Donald Trump have shared interests in the fight against insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity,” Bwala wrote. “As for the differences as to whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or in fact all faiths and no faiths, the differences, if they exist, would be discussed and resolved by the two leaders when they meet in the coming days, either in the State House or White House.”
The announcement follows a string of comments by Mr Trump, who earlier declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” and described the situation as a “mass slaughter” of Christians. In a social media post, Mr Trump warned that the United States would cut off all assistance to Nigeria “if the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians” and said he had instructed the newly renamed “Department of War” to prepare for possible action. “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!” he wrote.
Trump also suggested the U.S. “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,” although he did not specify which groups or incidents he was referring to.
The planned talks come amid heightened tensions between Abuja and Washington over the international characterisation of Nigeria’s security crisis. The Tinubu administration has previously rejected claims that the country is hostile to Christians, insisting that religious freedom is protected under the constitution and that security operations target violent extremists irrespective of religion.
As details of the meeting remain fluid, officials said the leaders would seek to align on facts and explore cooperation to curb terrorism and protect all Nigerian communities.
