Nigeria’s security problems took center stage on the global stage on Sunday, as President Bola Tinubu held a crucial call with French President Emmanuel Macron. This was just hours before a powerful U.S. fact-finding team arrived in Abuja to probe rising violence and alleged religious persecution. The diplomatic traffic comes at a time when attacks in northern states, mass abductions, and school raids have pushed the country into one of its most tense security moments in years.
Macron: “No One Should Stand By and Watch”
Macron said in message posted on X, that he had spoken with Tinubu and expressed France’s unwavering support as Nigeria battles terrorism and violent crime. “I conveyed France’s solidarity,” Macron wrote, adding that at Tinubu’s request, France would step up its support for affected communities. He stressed that every international partner must “increase their engagement” because “no one can remain a spectator.” The French leader’s message followed a wave of school kidnappings and community attacks that have sparked criticism of Nigeria’s security strategy and drawn global concern. iNaijanow shared a full story on the federal government’s move to fight insecurity with mass recruitment into the army, police, etc.
Tinubu’s Emergency Orders and New Defense Team
Just two weeks earlier, Tinubu had declared a nationwide security emergency. He ordered the military and police to expand recruitment and deploy thousands more officers. He also inaugurated a new Defence Minister, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), telling him to deliver fast results. The urgency escalated after the U.S. President Donald Trump accused Nigeria of persecuting Christians, threatened intervention, and re-listed the country as a “Country of Particular Concern”, a claim Nigeria strongly rejects.
U.S. Delegation Meets Ribadu in Abuja
While Tinubu and Macron spoke, a U.S. congressional delegation, accompanied by Ambassador Richard Mills held a closed-door meeting with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. Ribadu said the meeting followed earlier talks in Washington and focused on counter-terrorism cooperation, intelligence sharing, and strengthening Nigeria – U.S. security ties. Congressman Riley Moore described his visit as “very productive,” stating he came “on behalf of the American people.” The visit adds to growing U.S. attention on Nigeria, with the Pentagon and the U.S. Congress holding hearings over reports of religiously targeted violence.
American Officials Visit Benue Amid Genocide Debate
The U.S. team later traveled to Benue State, meeting Governor Hyacinth Alia, Catholic bishops, and the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse. Though the visit was labelled “private,” many believe it is tied to long-standing American concerns about attacks on Christian communities in the state.
While Bishop Wilfred Anagbe has twice briefed the U.S. Congress, calling the killings “persecution,” Governor Alia insists there is no genocide and that the violence is criminal, not religious.
Hope for Abducted Niger Schoolchildren
There was a glimmer of hope on Sunday, with reports that 100 of the 265 students abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State might have been freed, though officials had not confirmed it at press time. The pupils were kidnapped on November 21 in one of the country’s largest school abductions in years. Fifty escaped shortly after, but more than 200 remained in captivity. During a visit last week, Ribadu reassured parents: “God is with them. They are going to come back.” The government has been using aerial surveillance across Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara in search of the children.
Northern Leaders Warn The Crisis Is Man-Made
In conclusion, former presidential aspirant Gbenga Hashim said northern political and social elites must accept responsibility for years of leadership failures that allowed poverty, extremism, and banditry to spread. “This is not the season for symbolism,” he said. “Nigerians want action now.” He urged lawmakers to speed up legislation for state police, arguing that insecurity cannot be solved without empowering local communities. At a separate event, Prof. Abubakar Siddique of Ahmadu Bello University also warned that the North has become the “epicenter of poverty and insecurity,” noting that urgent actions need to be taken to repel the crisis.
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