Hundreds of Muslim groups and their supporters took to the streets of Kano on Saturday to protest against US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks accusing Nigeria of permitting a “Christian genocide” and hinting at possible military intervention.
Videos circulating online showed demonstrators waving placards bearing Trump’s image while chanting anti-US slogans. Many of the placards read, “There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria.” The peaceful march, which started from the Kano Central Mosque and moved through Sabon Gari, was monitored by security personnel.
Protesters described Trump’s comments as “false and dangerous,” warning they could deepen Nigeria’s fragile religious divides.
Trump had last week placed Nigeria on America’s Countries of Particular Concern list, alleging persecution of Christians and directing the Pentagon to consider intervention options — a move that has sparked diplomatic tensions and domestic outrage.
Nigeria’s Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, dismissed Trump’s remarks as “misguided,” insisting the nation’s security challenges affect both Christians and Muslims. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the US assessment ignored Nigeria’s complex realities.
Islamic organisations in northern Nigeria accused Trump of trying to “weaponise religion” against the country.
Amid rising tensions, prominent Christian leader, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, urged President Bola Tinubu to seek diplomatic dialogue with Washington and request a 90-day window to demonstrate progress in tackling terrorism. He warned that open confrontation could bring hardship to ordinary Nigerians.
China, Russia, and the African Union have also opposed any foreign military action, stressing that Nigeria’s sovereignty must be respected and calling for dialogue instead of coercion.
Nigeria continues to battle multiple security crises — from Islamist insurgency and banditry to communal clashes. Amnesty International reports that more than 1,800 people were killed in the southeast between 2021 and 2023, including both Christians and Muslims.
