Trump Calls Out Nigerian Government Again, Insist on Genocide Claims
By: Olufemi Orunsola
The President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has once again lambasted the Nigerian government, insisting on his designation of the populous African county as a Country of Particular Concerns.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as monitored from international media sources that Trump made the fresh remarks on The Brian Kilmeade Show’ on Fox News Radio over the weekend.
In his words, "I think Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace. They’re killing people by the thousands. It’s a genocide. And I’m really angry about it."
He further pointed out that his country feels concerned about the awkward development in Nigeria because of America's support for the country.
Trump lamented, "And we pay, you know, we give a lot of subsidy to Nigeria which we’re going to end up stopping.
“The government’s done nothing. They are very ineffective. They’re killing Christians at will. And you know, until I got involved in it two weeks ago, nobody even talked about it.”
Trump's latest remarks on Nigeria came on the heels of escalating attacks in Nigeria, where armed groups, bandits, and extremist fighters have carried out mass killings, kidnappings and raids on villages, even as gunmen reportedly attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwarra LGA of Niger state on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Niger state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said 315 people, including 303 students and 12 teachers, were abducted from the school.
Trump’s latest description of the leadership of Nigeria as ineffective is also coming at a time when the country just suffered the abduction of 25 female students from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi state, with the school’s vice-principal, Hassan Makuku, killed during the attack; while Ali Shehu, a security guard, sustained gunshot injuries to his right hand.
It would be recalled that Trump had on November 1, threatened military action in Nigeria over what he described as the alleged persecution of Christians - Christian genocide.
However, the Nigerian government has made frantic efforts to reject the genocide claim, claiming the country is only burdened with widespread insecurity.
Unfolding events and the spate of attacks on worshippers in Kwara State by bandits further invites the global community to focus on the security situation in Nigeria.
Experts and analysts have observed that Trump’s warning further puts more pressure on Nigeria's leadership to demonstrate real commitment to securing its citizens although it is not clear whether his latest comments, like The previous military threat, will lead to any significant policy changes or international intervention.
What's Your Reaction?
