US Mayor Accuses Obama’s Foreign Policy of Fueling Boko Haram’s Rise in Nigeria
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the Republican Mayor of Blanco, Texas, Mike Arnold, has blamed former U.S. President Barack Obama’s foreign policy for worsening Nigeria’s insurgency crisis, alleging that the 2011 intervention in Libya destabilised the Sahel region and fueled the rise of Boko Haram.
Speaking during an interview earlier this week, Arnold, who is currently on a fact-finding mission to Nigeria, urged the United States to reassess its understanding of the country’s internal conflict.
He emphasised that millions of displaced Nigerians are victims of terrorism rather than targets of religious persecution.
“This is my sixth visit to Nigeria since 2019, all focused on understanding and telling the stories of the internally displaced,” Arnold said.
“We’re producing a documentary to capture their experiences. Between four and ten million Nigerians—once peaceful and productive—are now displaced, stripped of stability and opportunity.”
The U.S. mayor expressed concern over the growing number of children living in displacement camps, warning that a generation deprived of education and security could perpetuate a cycle of violence.
“I see countless children who believe power comes from violence and that being peaceful means death. That’s a curse on this nation if nothing changes,” he warned.
OTN News further reports as gathered that Arnold, who has been involved in building and operating schools for internally displaced persons (IDPs) around Abuja, said his goal is to gather credible information and present it to U.S. policymakers to challenge the narrative of a government-backed Christian persecution.
“Our schools show that when displaced children receive education, they choose to rebuild, not fight. Recognising and restoring these people will form the foundation of a great nation. Until then, I fear for Nigeria,” he added.
He revealed that two schools are already operational in IDP camps, with a third under construction, providing full-time education for more than 550 students.
Expressing frustration at Nigeria’s dependence on international aid, Arnold criticised what he described as a contradiction between rejecting foreign influence and relying on U.S. assistance.
“I don’t understand why a country as mineral-rich and rapidly developing as Nigeria has to beg Uncle Sam for help,” he said. “Nigerians have enough resources to rebuild these lives. Their homes are bulldozed, they’re called vagrants—it’s a horrific reality. You can’t reject U.S. influence but keep asking for U.S. money. That contradiction makes no sense.”
Arnold also took aim at Obama’s handling of the Arab Spring, claiming that the administration’s policies across North Africa had far-reaching consequences for regional security.
“It wasn’t just Libya; it was the entire Arab Spring policy,” he said. “I believe Obama facilitated Boko Haram’s rise—intentionally. The former president carries a lot of blame for what’s happening here.”
The mission to Nigeria was organised by Nigerian author and political commentator Reno Omokri and includes American filmmaker Jeff Gibbs, who explained that their project aims to document the shared suffering of both Christian and Muslim victims of terrorism.
“In one camp we have mostly Christian students, in another mostly Muslim students,” Gibbs said. “What unites them is hope. We want to see these camps eradicated—not through neglect but by restoring dignity and opportunity.”
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