Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has cautioned Nigerians against celebrating recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to launch military operations in Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Sowore described Trump’s declaration as “perilous”, citing the destabilizing effects of previous U.S. interventions across the world.
“The latest threat by U.S. President Donald Trump to launch military action in Nigeria, allegedly to protect Christians, may sound appealing to some. Still, history has shown this to be perilous,” Sowore wrote.
He urged Nigerians—regardless of religion or belief—to reject foreign intervention, arguing that the United States and its allies have a “long record of failed interventions” in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria.
“Donald Trump does not care about Nigerians—Christian, Muslim, or otherwise,” Sowore asserted. “Our deliverance will never come from abroad; it must come from within, through accountable leadership and national renewal.”
Sowore’s comments followed Trump’s post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, in which the U.S. President ordered the Department of War to prepare for “possible action” should the alleged killings of Christians continue in Nigeria. Trump also threatened to suspend all U.S. aid and assistance to the Tinubu administration.
Trump, who recently redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged religious persecution, claimed that “radical Islamists” were behind the killings and vowed that the U.S. “will not stand by while such atrocities continue.”
Reacting to the remarks, President Bola Tinubu dismissed claims of religious persecution as “inaccurate and misleading.”
In a statement on Saturday, the Nigerian leader reaffirmed that religious freedom remains constitutionally protected, noting that his administration continues to engage with leaders of all faiths to address security challenges affecting every community.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu stated. “Our administration guarantees equality for all faiths under the Constitution.”
Legal analysts note that Trump’s threat raises complex questions under international law, particularly regarding sovereignty and the use of force. Any unilateral military intervention without UN approval would contravene the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state.
For Sowore, however, the broader message is clear: Nigeria’s salvation will not come from foreign powers but from homegrown governance reforms capable of ensuring justice, equality, and peace for all citizens.
