In a startling diplomatic twist, the Nigerian government has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being behind recent reports that allegedly influenced former U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of possible military action against Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview on Russia National TV on Tuesday, Daniel Bwala, an aide to President Bola Tinubu, urged Trump to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and desist from any plans to deploy American troops to the country.
Bwala described the allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria as a “false narrative” pushed by separatist groups and their international sympathisers to discredit the Tinubu administration.
“We try our best to downplay the rhetoric because we know for sure that that can be the reflection of the realities on ground,” he said.
According to Bwala, U.S. senators such as Ted Cruz had been “misled by IPOB sympathisers” who deliberately manipulated data and reports to influence Washington’s foreign policy.
“The decision of President Trump is anchored on the various tweets and pushes by congressmen. And the congressmen rely on data and reports submitted by a separatist group in Nigeria called IPOB, that there’s a genocide of Christians in Nigeria — which is false,” Bwala stated.
He stressed that credible global monitors and research-based organisations had never confirmed any state-backed Christian genocide in Nigeria, contrary to IPOB’s claims.
“All intelligence and non-governmental organisations that carry out research about killings in Nigeria — none, except two with IPOB affiliations — indicated there is a Christian genocide. In fact, even the content of their data contradicts that claim,” he added.
Bwala cited examples, including a report by Inter-Society Civil Liberties and Human Rights, which he said falsely alleged that Nigerian security forces were targeting people of Jewish heritage in the southeast.
He also referenced another report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, which acknowledged that killings in Nigeria affect both Christians and Muslims, yet “illogically concluded” that Christians were the sole victims.
“How can you write a report that admits both Christians and Muslims are being killed, then conclude there’s genocide against one group? It doesn’t make sense,” he said.
Bwala went further to claim that IPOB had amplified the genocide narrative since 2016, pushing it into right-wing political circles in the United States.
“That hoax was amplified by IPOB, claiming genocide against Christians because they have Jewish traditions. The narrative was later adopted by right-wing senators like Ted Cruz and Riley, who are trying to reinvent themselves politically,” he explained.
Despite the tension, Bwala maintained that Nigeria was making progress in tackling insecurity, while urging the U.S. to assist constructively rather than threaten intervention.
“We’re calling on Donald Trump to assist us with military apparatus that is requisite for us to fight insecurity. We do not need the boots of American soldiers on our soil. There has to be a respect for our territorial integrity,” he asserted.
His comments come amid heightened diplomatic unease between Abuja and Washington following Trump’s post on Truth Social, in which he accused the Nigerian government of allowing a “Christian genocide” and warned that America would “act fast and viciously” if the killings continued.
