The world is once again witnessing a troubling narrative unfold in Africa — this time in Nigeria, where the killing of Christians, including revered Catholic bishops and priests, has become an unbearable tragedy. The slaughter of innocent worshippers in their places of prayer is a stain on humanity and an indictment of Nigeria’s leadership, which has failed to protect its citizens irrespective of faith.
The continuous targeting of Christians in parts of Nigeria is a national shame that must be addressed urgently before it snowballs into a full-blown religious war. It is unacceptable that in a country so deeply religious, faith — which should unite, has become a weapon of division and destruction. Nigeria’s government must rise beyond rhetoric and act decisively to end these senseless killings, secure the nation, and restore the dignity of every human life.
But even as the world condemns these acts of violence, U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat to “invade Nigeria” under the pretext of stopping the persecution of Christians raises serious suspicion. If Trump indeed intends to strike Nigeria because of the killing of Christians, then that would be the weakest and weirdest justification for a military invasion in modern times.
Where was America since Boko Haram started kidnapping schoolgirls, burning churches, and killing Christians across northern Nigeria? Since when did Washington suddenly discover that Christians are being killed in Nigeria? For over a decade, American foreign policy remained largely passive, offering only statements of “concern” while Nigerian villages were being razed to the ground. So why now? Why this sudden “holy” awakening?
The truth may lie elsewhere. The recent diplomatic tension between Washington and Abuja offers a more plausible explanation for this sabre-rattling. The revocation of the U.S. visa of Nigeria’s Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, for his criticism of the Trump administration, sent clear signals of strained relations between the two nations. Trump’s sudden interest in Nigeria’s internal religious conflicts may just be a cloak to mask political vengeance or a geopolitical agenda.
Let’s be frank — Nigeria has suffered decades of bad leadership, but no American president ever sought to “liberate” its people. Trump shouldn’t pretend to be the one to do so now. We have seen what America’s so-called “invasions for freedom” have caused elsewhere — Libya lies in ruins, Iraq is fractured, and Afghanistan is still bleeding. These are not models of liberation; they are cautionary tales of chaos.
Trump cannot use Nigeria to satisfy his frustration with African nations that refuse to bow to his whims. First, it was aid withdrawal. Then came visa restrictions and revocations. Now, it is the threat of invasion. This is no longer diplomacy — it is bullying in its crudest form.
And let it be clear: an invasion of Nigeria will not be Nigeria’s fight alone. It will be a fight against Africa as a whole. Because if America succeeds in Nigeria, it will embolden future invasions across the continent under one pretext or another. This is the new face of neo-colonialism, dressed in the guise of “humanitarian intervention.”
Africa must wake up. This is the moment our founding fathers — Kwame Nkrumah, Kenneth Kaunda, Jomo Kenyatta, and others — warned us about. They envisioned a united Africa strong enough to resist external domination. Yet decades later, our disunity, corruption, and greed have left us vulnerable to manipulation by foreign powers who only come when they have an interest to pursue or a revenge to execute.
Before America teaches Africa about democracy, it must first perfect its own. A country that uses visa restrictions and economic blackmail to silence critics has little moral ground to preach freedom.
If Trump’s planned invasion of Nigeria goes unchecked, it could destabilise not only West Africa but the entire continent. Nigeria’s internal challenges are already pushing its citizens into neighbouring countries in search of safety and livelihood. A war would only worsen the migration crisis, strain fragile economies, and ignite new conflicts across borders.
Africa must therefore speak with one voice. This is not just about Nigeria — it’s about Africa’s sovereignty, dignity, and future. The continent must reject this creeping return of colonial arrogance and demand respect from all global powers.
Trump’s threat is a wake-up call. It’s time Africa stopped sleeping.
Africans are watching!
FAB's Gist.
Michael Ziem Kuufaar
Nov 2, 2025 5:13 pmWell said. But at the beginning of Boko Haram, they offered to help and Nigeria didn't agree. But this no ground for them to attack.