US President Donald Trump has described Nigeria as “a disgrace,” accusing the federal government of failing to protect its citizens amid rising insecurity across the country.
Speaking on Fox News Radio’s The Brian Kilmeade Show on Friday, Trump said the scale of violence in Nigeria amounted to genocide.
> “I think Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace. They’re killing people by the thousands. It’s a genocide. And I’m really angry about it,” he said.
He also claimed the US subsidises Nigeria and warned that such support could be withdrawn.
> “We give a lot of subsidy to Nigeria, which we’re going to end up stopping. The government’s done nothing. They are very ineffective. They’re killing Christians at will. And until I got involved in it two weeks ago, nobody even talked about it.”
Trump’s remarks come amid renewed US scrutiny of escalating attacks in Nigeria, where armed groups, bandits, and extremist fighters continue to carry out mass killings, kidnappings and raids on communities.
On Friday, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwarra LGA of Niger State.
According to the Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), 315 people — including 303 students and 12 teachers — were abducted.
Wasiu Abiodun, the state police spokesperson, said tactical police teams, military units and other security operatives have been deployed to the area.
The incident occurred shortly after the abduction of 25 female students from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State. During that attack, the school’s vice-principal, Hassan Makuku, was killed, while a security guard, Ali Shehu, sustained gunshot injuries.
On November 1, Trump had threatened possible military action in Nigeria over what he described as the persecution of Christians.
