“The Nigerian government will not be intimidated,” Tinubu in the face of Trump’s threats

Facing threats of intervention from Donald Trump and accusations of religious violence, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his country’s sovereignty and promises to defeat terrorism “without backing down”.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said his country will not give in to any form of intimidation, despite rising international concerns over accusations of persecution against Christians in Nigeria. In a statement posted Friday on his X (ex-Twitter) account, the head of state reaffirmed his country’s sovereignty and his determination to face its internal challenges “ with calm, clarity and a strong sense of mission ”. This statement comes a few days after U.S. President Donald Trump raised the possibility of military intervention in response to alleged violence targeting Christians in the country.

Tinubu recalled that Nigeria “ has faced terrorism for nearly two decades ” and that the government remains “ fully committed ” to tackling it. “We will not back down. We will defeat terrorism decisively and emerge victorious from this struggle ”, he said, before adding that “national security is non-negotiable”.

The Nigerian president also stressed the need to preserve the rule of law and to stay the course on the security reforms launched since he took office. He also called on Nigeria’s international partners to continue cooperating with Abuja, stressing that “regional stability depends on collective action and mutual support”.

On October 31, Donald Trump had asked the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action against Nigeria if, in his view, the Nigerian government “continues to tolerate the killing of Christians”. The U.S. president had already listed the country among those “of particular concern” on religious freedom, citing serious violations of the rights of Christian minorities. Bola Tinubu, for his part, is trying to reassure: Nigeria, he says, “ will stand tall and be master of its destiny ”, while continuing the fight against terrorism and sectarian divisions.