AMERICAN INTERVENTION: SUMMARY OF PRESS STATEMENT BY CONCERNED NIGERIAN CITIZENS

AMERICAN INTERVENTION: SUMMARY OF PRESS STATEMENT BY CONCERNED NIGERIAN CITIZENS

Kaduna, 12th November 2025

By:

Dr Bilkisu Oniyangi

Professor Usman Yusuf

Dr Ahmed Shehu

Dr Aliyu Tilde

Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

Barr. Kalli Ghazali

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We are Nigerian citizens who share similar values and ideas regarding our country, particularly in these times which demand mature and constructive responses to the challenges we face. We have consulted and engaged a wide spectrum of views and positions across the North and Nigeria, including fellow Nigerians who are Christians and Muslims, as well as government. We have chosen this time when passions may have given way to clear-headed thinking and responses to events triggered by threats from the United States towards our country and our fellow citizens.

Attempts to apply pressure on the government of Nigeria to show higher levels of commitment to end threats to lives and livelihoods of Nigerians have a considerable history. Concerns of evangelical groups in the US over the killing of Christians have been kept alive by strong lobbies from Christian groups in Nigeria, international rights organizations, and elements within the Republican Party. In 2020, President Trump succeeded in classifying Nigeria as a Country of Special Concern, but after his defeat, President Biden removed Nigeria from the list. Recently, President Trump threatened to relist Nigeria as a CPC, and within days this threat escalated into suggestions of military action to protect Nigerian Christians.

Predictably, these developments in the US created substantial concerns, dividing Nigerians between those who felt offended by what they see as unfounded religious bias and disrespect for Nigeria’s sovereignty, and others who welcomed the US threat as potential relief from insecurity. Signs that the posture of the US could deepen our national fault lines and turn Nigeria into a pawn in global geopolitics also became clear.

The real tragedy is that Nigerians, and particularly our leaders, are responsible for our circumstances today. We have been poorly led while we died and bled in the hands of killers of all types. Nigerians have tolerated weak and indifferent leadership for too long. It is time for Nigerians to speak as one, and to demand that those who have responsibility for protecting us do so.

We acknowledge that friendly countries like the US, China, UK, and Russia are concerned over our situation, and they can help us in many ways to bring an end to these killings. What will not help our situation are threats, insults, and opportunistic postures. This is our problem as Nigerians, and it will be solved by us. The US has triggered another opportunity for our leadership to mobilize our collective assets and demand security for all Nigerians.

Now Nigerians are dealing with existential threats and damaging arguments over how to respond to external pressures. We believe these are times requiring restraint and maturity in our relationships as Muslims and Christians. On our part, we plan to engage with all interests, sources of support and stakeholders, including the government of Nigeria, to see how we can contribute to managing current concerns and long-term resolutions of our insecure existence.

We have studied various comments and actions by the leadership of the US regarding Nigeria. We see their value as a strong push for Nigeria to improve the protection of its citizens. But we do not expect the US, a long-standing friend and ally, to engage in hostile acts that will divert attention and resources from the real task — securing all Nigerians. Under no circumstances should we consider or tolerate foreign interference as useful to our current circumstances or our future as a sovereign nation.

Our observations and suggestions:

i) The US should withdraw all threats against Nigeria and commit to assisting our country with strategic and political support to defeat those who threaten our security and unity.

ii) Friends of Nigeria should stand by our country, show solidarity publicly, and assist in boosting our capacities to fight insecurity.

iii) The world needs to take notice of attempts to weaken Nigeria and the Sahel region. Those behind these attempts seek to create a hostile enclave that will intensify global terror. Nigerians have no desire to live under ISWAP, Boko Haram, Ansaru, IPOB, Lakurawa, or bandits.

iv) Nigerians should not quarrel over who is being killed the most. Every life taken, every kidnapping or assault anywhere in Nigeria matters equally. Those who kill us do not care about our faiths.

v) We encourage President Tinubu to directly address Nigerians on this issue, reassuring us that government is on top of the situation. He should appoint competent Heads of Missions to promote our interests globally and resist the temptation to visit foreign countries for now. His priority should be the security of Nigerians.

We remain convinced that with sincere leadership, political will, and national unity, Nigeria will overcome this phase. Our independence and unity have been tested many times, and this too shall pass — but only if we act together as one people.

Kaduna, 12th November 2025