The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a firm warning to United States President Donald Trump, urging him to stop making inflammatory comments that could trigger religious tension or conflict in Nigeria.
In a strongly worded statement, the student body dismissed Trump’s recent assertion that Christians in Nigeria were facing “genocide,” describing the claim as a misleading narrative and a “pure fallacy” capable of destabilizing the nation's fragile unity.
According to NANS, Nigeria—like many countries—is battling severe internal security challenges such as terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping. However, the group stressed that these issues affect both Christians and Muslims, and should not be framed as targeted attacks on any single religious group.
NANS condemns Trump’s ‘genocide’ allegation
Trump had recently escalated global attention on Nigeria by labeling the country a zone of particular concern, alleging mass killings of Christians and hinting at possible U.S. military intervention.
Reacting to the remarks, NANS—through its National Vice President for Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Akinbodunse Sileola Felicia—criticized Trump’s comments as reckless and divisive.
She noted that adding a religious narrative to Nigeria’s complex security crisis could deepen distrust among citizens and ignite unnecessary hostility across communities.
Akinbodunse stated that Nigerians have lived together peacefully for years, despite their diversity, and external forces should not be allowed to pit one religious group against another.
She further challenged Trump to prove his concern for Christians in Nigeria by making U.S. visas free for them, instead of “fanning the flames of conflict through dangerous rhetoric.”
Students urge stronger fight against insecurity
The NANS vice president emphasized that insecurity in Nigeria has claimed lives from both major religions, questioning why Trump singled out only Christians as victims.
She called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intensify military and policy efforts, especially in hotspots such as Plateau and Benue States where frequent attacks occur.
Akinbodunse concluded that the only way to invalidate Trump’s genocide claim is for Nigeria to decisively defeat insurgency and bring an end to the nationwide killings.
The statement has since generated widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians praising the student body for defending the country’s image and discouraging religious polarization.