Our Reporter
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has appealed to former United States President Donald Trump to collaborate with President Bola Tinubu in addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges, rather than threatening military intervention.
PFN’s President, Wale Oke, made the call during an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, stressing that Nigerians’ lives are precious and the targeted attacks against churches must stop.
“Whatever needs to be done should be done to stop the killings. If the President [Tinubu] wants to ask for training in counter-terrorism, or wherever America has expertise, let them ask for it,” Oke said.
“For us, we do not want an American invasion of Nigeria. We want Donald Trump to work with our President and to hold our President accountable to stop the targeted killing and kidnapping of our members.”
Oke urged the Nigerian government to end killings across the country, emphasising that Nigerians of all faiths should be able to live, work, and practise religion freely.
“We don’t want revenge. But we want an end to killings. Every Nigerian, whether Muslim or Christian, should be able to live safely anywhere in the country,” he added.
The PFN’s statement comes in response to Trump’s recent posts on Truth Social, where he labelled Nigeria a “country of particular concern” due to the mass slaughter of Christians and suggested possible military action.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote.
He later directed the US Department of War to “prepare for possible action,” warning that any military intervention would be “fast, vicious, and sweet.”
Trump’s statements have provoked international concern and domestic pushback. The Federal Government dismissed claims of Christian genocide as false and divisive, with the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, stating:
“Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is inaccurate and harmful.”
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) also rejected the notion of Christian genocide, warning against framing insecurity solely along religious lines. Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Northern States chair clarified that Trump’s messaging was intended to urge action on killings rather than threaten military action.
Nigeria has faced escalating insecurity in recent years, including kidnappings, communal clashes, and attacks on religious communities. While some incidents have involved faith-based targeting, analysts caution against framing the crisis solely in religious terms, noting that violence often stems from complex political, social, and economic factors.
International observers have expressed concern over external interventionist rhetoric, with diplomatic channels emphasising collaboration, capacity-building, and intelligence support as preferred approaches to tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.