NSA, security chiefs to address media over Trump’s genocide claim

Nigeria’s top security officials are set to address the media today (Monday) following U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial statement alleging genocide against Christians in the country.

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, announced the planned briefing during the monthly National Joint Security Press Briefing held in Abuja.

He said the session would “provide adequate response to the allegations of genocide and update the media on government efforts to combat insecurity and related challenges.”

The development follows widespread reactions to Trump’s post on his Truth Social account on Saturday, where he accused the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to the killing of Christians and warned of possible U.S. military intervention.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’” Trump wrote.

The remarks sparked outrage in Nigeria and across the diplomatic community, with President Bola Tinubu swiftly issuing a statement rejecting the claim and reaffirming Nigeria’s record on religious freedom.

Posting on his X handle, Tinubu emphasised that Nigeria remains a secular democracy governed by the rule of law and constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.

“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” he stated. “Since 2023, our administration has maintained open engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders and continues to address security challenges affecting citizens across all faiths and regions.”

Tinubu dismissed portrayals of Nigeria as religiously intolerant, insisting that such narratives do not reflect the country’s diverse reality.

“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” the President said.

Reaffirming the unity of the nation, he added that religious tolerance “has been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” while pledging continued cooperation with the United States and other global partners to promote mutual understanding and protect all faith communities.