The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday convened an emergency security meeting with service chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies following reports that former U.S. President Donald Trump had directed preparations for possible military action in Nigeria.
The closed-door meeting, held at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Abuja, was aimed at assessing the implications of Trump’s comments and coordinating a unified national response.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, deliberations focused on evaluating intelligence briefings, analyzing the credibility of the report, and assessing potential diplomatic consequences of Trump’s statement that the Nigerian government was “not doing enough to protect Christians from extremist attacks.”
Trump, while speaking on Saturday, reportedly claimed that the U.S. military was being prepared to act in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militancy, a comment that has generated widespread concern within diplomatic and security circles in Abuja.
However, independent monitoring groups have clarified that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of terrorism, banditry, and communal violence across Nigeria, stressing that there is no verified evidence of targeted persecution against one religious group.
Sources at the meeting said the NSA urged restraint and emphasized the need for calm, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to protecting all citizens regardless of religion or region.
An official statement from the Office of the National Security Adviser is expected to be released to the public after the meeting’s conclusions are fully documented.