FG Engages US Amid Rising Tensions as Vatican, CAN, Afenifere, and Orji Kalu React to Nigeria’s Security Crisis

The Federal Government says ongoing diplomatic talks with the United States are yielding positive outcomes toward easing rising tensions between both countries. This follows U.S. Congressman Bill Huizenga’s criticism of Nigeria’s handling of attacks on Christians and his call for economic sanctions instead of military intervention.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said channels of communication with the U.S. have been opened, adding that misunderstandings largely stemmed from an incomplete grasp of Nigeria’s domestic complexities. Idris revealed intelligence linking a proscribed separatist group in Nigeria with certain U.S.-based lobbyists allegedly spreading false narratives to policymakers.

Meanwhile, Vatican’s Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu warned that Nigeria’s insecurity is self-inflicted, fueled by division and intolerance, urging unity across ethnic and religious lines. Similarly, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the FCT called for dialogue, not anger, in response to global criticism, while Afenifere cautioned against a U.S.-led war approach, describing Nigeria’s terrorism as multifaceted and requiring intelligence-based solutions.

Also commenting, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu said former U.S. President Donald Trump “didn’t lie” about killings in Nigeria, insisting both Christians and Muslims are victims of extremist attacks. He revealed that U.S. intelligence is already assisting Nigeria with actionable data used in recent Air Force operations targeting terrorists.

Amid these diplomatic tensions, President Bola Tinubu met behind closed doors with Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, who assured Nigerians of improved security nationwide, following his operational tour of the Northeast and recent successful joint offensives against insurgents.