Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party flagbearer Peter Obi have maintained a conspicuous silence as United States President Donald Trump threatened to launch military action against Nigeria.
Trump’s remarks followed his decision to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” — a move that reignited tensions across diplomatic and political circles.
Citing what he called “an existential threat to Christianity” in Nigeria, Trump claimed that “thousands of Christians are being killed” and blamed “radical Islamists” for what he described as a “mass slaughter.”
In a fiery post on Truth Social, the Republican leader declared that he had directed the Pentagon to draw up a plan of attack if Nigeria failed to address the alleged killings.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’” Trump warned.
He added, “I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians.”
Atiku and Obi, both known to always react swiftly to issues affecting Nigeria, have, however, remained silent — a move that has sparked curiosity and criticism across social media, where Nigerians are demanding that top political figures take a stand amid what many see as one of the most sensitive international crises facing the country in recent years.
