The Nigerian government has said it welcomes any support or cooperation from the United States in the fight against terrorism, following recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to take action over what he called the killing of Christians in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Ministry of Information and National Orientation emphasized that Nigeria remains committed to combating all forms of terrorism and religious violence within its borders. “Nigeria is an independent, sovereign nation that values its partnership with the United States. We welcome constructive collaboration in addressing security challenges,” the statement said.
The government, however, urged all international partners to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and avoid statements that could inflame tensions or misrepresent the country’s complex security situation.
Trump had earlier said that he would “launch attacks in Nigeria” if the U.S. government failed to act against what he described as the mass killing of Christians.
Nigeria’s officials dismissed the remarks as “reckless and uninformed,” but reiterated their openness to diplomatic and intelligence cooperation with Washington to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts.