Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has expressed disapproval of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat to deploy American troops to Nigeria.
Soyinka, speaking after a meeting with Governor Hyacinth Alia in Makurdi on Friday, described Trump’s remarks as indicative of a “preconceived mindset” that overlooks the complexities of Nigeria’s security challenges.
“You cannot simply declare you are coming in with force without fully understanding the situation,” Soyinka said, cautioning against unilateral action.
He emphasised that while governments have a duty to protect citizens, external interventions should respect local efforts to resolve crises.
Trump, on October 31, designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged attacks on Christian communities, claiming that Christianity faces an existential threat.
He called on U.S. lawmakers to investigate the matter and reportedly considered military action if the situation persisted.
Soyinka called for respect for those working to find solutions on the ground and warned against hasty external interventions that could exacerbate tensions.
Former Nigerian diplomat Bola Akinterinwa described President Bola Tinubu as exercising greater caution than his U.S. counterpart.
Tinubu has rejected Trump’s characterisation of Nigeria as persecuting Christians, noting ongoing engagement with religious leaders to improve security since 2023.
In parallel, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa held a hearing to discuss the redesignation, titled “A Serious, Well-Founded Wake-Up Call.”
Lawmakers and experts, including Nina Shea, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, and CSIS’s Oge Onubogu, debated Nigeria’s response to targeted violence and considered potential sanctions, visa restrictions, and aid conditions.
Committee members urged careful assessment to avoid oversimplifying the country’s complex security landscape.
