Counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, has cautioned that recent comments credited to U.S. President Donald Trump could endanger Christians in Nigeria by emboldening terrorist groups to launch more attacks under the guise of religious persecution.
Makama issued the warning on Sunday via a post on X, stressing that Trump’s remarks — which described Nigerian Christians as victims of systematic violence — might be exploited by extremist organizations to justify renewed assaults and deepen religious divisions across the country.
The development follows Trump’s decision on Friday to reclassify Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing alleged violence against Christians and government inaction to protect religious minorities. The Nigerian government, however, rejected the claims, insisting that no faith group faces persecution in the country.
On Saturday, Trump escalated his rhetoric, threatening possible U.S. military intervention if the killings continued — a statement Makama described as “potentially destabilizing.”
“Such pronouncements from influential figures can embolden terrorist networks like Boko Haram and ISWAP,” Makama warned. “They may interpret them as validation of their propaganda, using religion as a pretext for more violence.”
He added that although Trump’s remarks might appear sympathetic to victims, they could have unintended consequences.
“Comments like these risk undoing years of interfaith peacebuilding and counter-extremism work,”
he said.
Makama urged political and religious leaders to be cautious in their public statements on Nigeria’s security challenges, warning that provocative or emotionally charged rhetoric could worsen the country’s fragile stability.
He noted that Nigeria has long grappled with violent extremism from Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents, who have consistently exploited religious narratives to justify atrocities against both Muslims and Christians.