Heightened tension gripped Abuja on Monday as National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu summoned an emergency meeting with the nation’s service chiefs and intelligence heads. The closed-door session at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) followed reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had directed preparations for possible military intervention in Nigeria.
Officials familiar with the deliberations said the meeting, which stretched into the late afternoon, focused on evaluating the national security and diplomatic implications of Trump’s controversial remarks. The NSA reportedly urged restraint among the country’s security stakeholders while assessing intelligence updates from various fronts, including Nigeria’s missions in Washington and New York.
Concerns began mounting after Trump, during a press interaction aboard Air Force One on Sunday, accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from extremist violence. His statement, suggesting that the U.S. military was “being prepared to act in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militancy,” immediately sparked alarm among diplomats and policy watchers in Abuja.
Security officials at the meeting reportedly reviewed recent intelligence briefings and the broader context of Trump’s allegations. Independent monitoring organisations have consistently reported that both Christian and Muslim communities have suffered grievously from banditry, insurgency, and communal violence across the country, with no credible evidence of a religiously selective campaign.
Mr. Ribadu, addressing the security chiefs, was said to have called for calm and emphasised Nigeria’s unwavering duty to safeguard all citizens without bias. His message, according to sources, was to project composure while engaging allies through diplomatic channels rather than reactionary rhetoric.
At a joint security press briefing, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, confirmed that the NSA and military heads would issue a formal media briefing on the outcome of the meeting. He rejected Trump’s assertions as “false, unfounded and potentially destabilising,” urging responsible journalism and restraint in public discourse.
Issa-Onilu reaffirmed that the Federal Government remains focused on fighting terrorism and fostering inter-religious peace, pointing to ongoing operations in the North-East and North-West regions as proof of Nigeria’s commitment to stability.
