Nigeria has responded to Donald Trump’s menace of navy motion by suggesting it will welcome assist tackling Islamist insurgents, however insists America should respect its sovereignty.
Posting on Fact Social, the US president claimed radical Islamists are committing “mass slaughter” and Christianity is “facing an existential threat” within the West African nation.
On Saturday, he requested officers to organize for doable “fast” navy motion in Nigeria if the nation fails to crack down on the killing of “thousands of Christians”. It prompted a blunt response from Nigeria on Sunday.
“We welcome US assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity,” Daniel Bwala, an adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, instructed Reuters.
However Mr Bwala additionally sought to minimize tensions between the 2 nations, regardless of Mr Trump calling Nigeria a “disgraced country”.
On Saturday, President Tinubu additionally pushed again in opposition to the claims of non secular intolerance and defended his nation’sefforts to guard spiritual freedom.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take intoconsideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for allNigerians,” Tinubu mentioned in a press release.
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Donald Trump mentioned he is able to ‘save our Nice Christian inhabitants across the World!’ Pic: Reuters
Mr Trump quoted figures suggesting 3,100 Christians had been killed in Nigeria, however didn’t state any supply for the numbers or timeframe.
He said: “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!”
Nigeria now joins North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan and China on an inventory of nations “of particular concern” on account of violations of non secular freedom.
Analysts have mentioned that, whereas Christians are amongst these focused, the vast majority of victims of armed teams are Muslims within the nation’s Muslim-majority north, the place probably the most assaults happen.
Mr Trump’s transfer follows efforts by Republican senator Ted Cruz to get fellow evangelical Christians to foyer Congress over claims of “Christian mass murder” in Nigeria.
Boko Haram – which kidnapped greater than 270 schoolgirls in 2014 – is the principle group cited in earlier warnings by US and worldwide governments.
The group has dedicated “egregious violations of religious freedom”, in response to a 2021 report by the bipartisan US Fee on Worldwide Non secular Freedom.
It mentioned greater than 37,000 folks had been killed by Islamist teams in Nigeria since 2011.
Church buildings and Christian neighbourhoods have been focused prior to now, however specialists say Muslims are the most typical victims of Boko Haram assaults, which routinely goal the police, navy and authorities.
Different teams mentioned to be working within the nation embrace Boko Haram offshoot Islamic State – West Africa Province (ISWAP).
About half of Nigeria’s inhabitants is estimated to be Muslim, who principally reside within the north, with roughly the opposite half following Christianity.
US travellers are at present urged to “reconsider” journey to Nigeria on account of a menace of terrorism, crime, kidnapping and armed gangs. The UK advises its residents alongside related traces.
