‘Don’t Speak For Victims, We Need Help’ – Christians Reject Trump’s Claim Of Ending Killings In Nigeria

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alongside the Ecumenical Synods of Bishops, Archbishops, Apostles and Senior Clergy, has rejected United States President Donald Trump’s claim that American military intervention ended the killing of Christians in Nigeria.

The Christian leaders described the claim as misleading and inconsistent with the security realities across the country, insisting that killings and abductions continue to affect Nigerians in several states.

Trump had claimed during an event in Washington on Friday that recent US military action in Nigeria largely halted attacks on Christian communities and significantly weakened those responsible for the violence.

“As you know, we recently struck Nigeria and largely ended the slaughter of great Christian populations,” the US President had said.

Reacting to the remarks, the Chairman of CAN in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. Joseph Hayab, said only victims of insecurity and Christians in Nigeria could determine whether there had been any meaningful improvement.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, Hayab said Trump’s comments appeared to be based on misleading information.

“The right people who should tell whether Trump has succeeded should be Nigerian Christians or Northern Christians, not Trump himself. But probably he is getting his information from the wrong source,” he said.

“Trump should allow the victims to make that confession, not him. The victims are the right people who can tell whether whatever he has done has yielded any success.”

Hayab acknowledged that the United States had recently carried out operations against terrorist elements but maintained that the intervention had not ended attacks on innocent Nigerians.

“The strategy Trump’s America is adopting is not good enough because after the US forces struck in Sokoto last December, they went on a long recess. They came recently again and killed some ISIS commanders, but people are still being killed here every day,” he added.

The CAN chairman urged the US government to focus on practical support rather than what he described as political claims.

“We want help, but the help shouldn’t be propaganda. It should be genuine help, not propaganda or misinformation.

“All those people who are still in bandits’ captivity in Oyo, Kwara and Kogi, what has happened? People are still in Kwara, Katsina, Borno and other states. Trump and his men can find a better story,” he said.

He added that while Nigeria welcomed international support in tackling insecurity, such assistance should produce measurable improvements on the ground.

Bishops demand evidence

Also reacting, the Ecumenical Synods of Bishops, Archbishops, Apostles and Senior Clergy said there was no convincing evidence that the reported US intervention had achieved the results claimed by Trump.

The International Secretary of the body, Archbishop Osazee William, said the reported military action fell short of expectations.

“I don’t seem to agree with him because, in the first place, I have yet to see evidence of that claim. I think there was a kind of warning strike in Sokoto, but I didn’t see any visible killing.

“This is not the kind of intervention we were hoping and looking forward to. We are looking at a good intervention,” he said.

William also expressed concern over reports of possible behind-the-scenes negotiations affecting the US position on Nigeria’s security challenges.

While acknowledging that a message may have been conveyed through the reported operation, he insisted that it had not addressed the country’s security crisis.

The bishops called for sustained collaboration between Nigerian authorities and international partners to tackle insecurity, protect vulnerable communities and restore lasting peace across the country.