Trump Touches on Nigeria During Diplomatic Announcement

On a significant diplomatic occasion of his second term, Donald Trump referenced Nigeria.

His remarks reached millions, coinciding with a global audience focused on his announcement of a ceasefire with Iran. In a brief statement, he connected an Iranian assertion to what he termed a “(Nigerian) fake news site.”

This sentence, though simple, seemed aimed at laying the groundwork for President Trump’s message.

Since February, 200 U.S. soldiers have been stationed at Bauchi airfield, with the MQ-9 Reaper drone deployed in March.

While many Americans might struggle to locate Nigeria on a map, it’s noteworthy that it ranks as the sixth largest nation globally and is projected to become the third largest by 2050, representing about a quarter of Africa’s population. Additionally, Nigeria is among the top five oil producers in OPEC and boasts over $1 trillion in unutilized mineral resources.

Those who influence Nigeria will have a considerable impact on Africa’s future—and more broadly, on the world stage. Islamic militants have recognized this for decades, having operated in the region for around 30 years.

In fact, more Christians are murdered for their beliefs annually in Nigeria than anywhere else combined—over 125,000 since 2009.

Since 2010, I’ve visited Nigeria 16 times, often during the State Department’s stern Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory. I documented my experiences in my book, “Epicenter: Nigeria, Islamic Extremism, and the War for World Order.”

Some may dispute this generalization, arguing it’s merely a tribal or climate conflict. However, the situation is far more grave—a systematic extermination motivated by religion—with assailants mercilessly killing Christians while proclaiming “Allah Akbar,” often while elements within the Nigerian government complicate the matter further.

During a 2025 Congressional hearing, Gen. Michael Langley, head of Africa Command, described the sector as “the center of terrorism on earth”—noting that a terrorist network is making strides toward Nigeria’s coastline and assembling the capability to strike the U.S. mainland.

Once they achieve Sharia control across Nigeria, the terrorists plan to use the nation as a launch point for global jihad.

This is not hypothetical. On March 12, ISIS-related operatives, radicalized in Nigeria, entered an ROTC classroom at Old Dominion University in Virginia, taking the life of Lt. Col. Brandon Shah while shouting “Allah Akbar.” Nigeria’s militancy is already affecting America.

Observers in Nigeria have watched in dismay as the war in Iran dominated Washington’s attention for weeks, with Trump’s campaign clock ticking.

Last October, the Trump administration labeled Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” the harshest designation the U.S. bestows for issues of religious freedom. Congressman Riley Moore from West Virginia took up the investigation.

Congress also introduced HR 7457, which could impose sanctions targeting Nigerian officials complicit in violence.

On Christmas night, the USS Paul Ignatius targeted a jihadist camp in Sokoto state with Tomahawk missiles—the first U.S. strike on mainland Nigeria.

Interestingly, the Nigerian government offered the coordinates, but they did not pinpoint the far north, where the true atrocities are occurring. Subsequently, Trump’s focus shifted to Iran, while violence in Nigeria intensified.

From November to Palm Sunday, the death toll surged; over 400 were abducted in November alone, with miners attacked near Jos in December despite prior warnings being dismissed.

A new year tragedy saw 42 men brutally executed in a marketplace. In February, more than 160 lives were lost in Kwara state, and in March, over 100 died in Ngoshe—yet Nigerian troops retreated without engaging the attackers.

And during Palm Sunday, 53 Christians were killed across three incidents, while Easter Sunday saw another 17 lives lost in Benue State before dawn.

In response, Rep. Moore cited Trump’s firm stance, indicating that if the Nigerian government failed to tackle this genocide, the U.S. would intervene.

Moreover, Senator Ted Cruz announced that the U.S. was actively pursuing Nigerian officials believed to be involved in terrorism.

On another front, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has enlisted lobbyists in Washington, including Trump’s former State Department adviser, now a registered foreign agent in Nigeria.

Tinubu seems to believe that managing relations with Washington is feasible, perhaps underestimating the situation’s nuances.

Since February, the deployment of 200 U.S. soldiers has continued at Bauchi airfield, with MQ-9 Reaper drones having operated there since March. The USS Paul Ignatius remains in the Gulf of Guinea.

American oversight has leaned toward northern Nigeria for two months as the location of terrorist groups is known. Cruz stated there are insights into who finances these operations, and a ceasefire with Iran could liberate a president hesitant to act.

I’ve been asserting for years that Nigeria is a focal point for anti-American forces globally: Islamic extremists, resource exploiters from China, and a protection racket whose kill count has often been hidden by Washington.

Trump’s recent acknowledgment of Nigeria signals he, too, comprehends this reality.