China has cautioned the United States against any form of military intervention in Nigeria following President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about possible action over alleged persecution of Christians in the country.
At a press briefing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reaffirmed Beijing’s strong support for Nigeria’s sovereignty and development path.
“As Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly opposes any country using religion or human rights as an excuse to interfere in other nations’ internal affairs or to threaten them with sanctions and military force,” Mao stated, as quoted by TheCable.
The warning comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Abuja after President Trump hinted at possible ground or air operations in response to alleged reports of religious genocide.
Reacting to Trump’s comments, the Nigerian government urged the U.S. to respect its sovereignty and refrain from any actions that could destabilize the region.
Daniel Bwala, a senior aide to President Bola Tinubu, dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. Speaking on Russia National TV, Bwala said claims of genocide were being pushed by separatist elements of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to mislead the U.S. Congress and global opinion.
He argued that independent investigations and credible civil society organizations had found no evidence of government-backed religious killings, describing the genocide narrative as “a hoax amplified by IPOB since 2016.”
“The data being used by some U.S. lawmakers was produced by groups affiliated with IPOB. Even those reports contradict the genocide claim,” Bwala said.
He accused American politicians such as Senators Ted Cruz and Riley of being influenced by the misleading reports, saying they were exploiting Nigeria’s situation to advance personal political agendas.
Bwala emphasized that while Nigeria continues to face security challenges, the government has made significant progress in addressing them.
“Our call is for the U.S. to support Nigeria with military equipment and intelligence to strengthen our fight against insecurity—not to send troops. Respect for our territorial integrity remains non-negotiable,” he added.
