THE pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has denounced U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat of military action against Nigeria, describing it as an act of economic coercion disguised as humanitarian concern.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the organization accused the former U.S. president of using false claims about Christian persecution to justify a broader political and economic agenda.
Ajayi said Trump’s allegations were baseless and amounted to “giving a dog a bad name in order to kill it.”
According to Afenifere, the real motive behind the aggressive rhetoric is Washington’s unease with the Tinubu administration’s foreign policy direction and its growing economic relationship with China.
“By sounding so harsh, Mr. Trump hopes to pressure President Tinubu into negotiations that will give the U.S. greater economic leverage—possibly through increased arms sales and trade access. Nigeria’s closer ties with China are clearly unsettling for Washington,” Ajayi explained.
He also pointed to recent diplomatic friction between both nations, citing Vice President Kashim Shettima’s open support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict at the United Nations General Assembly—a stance Afenifere believes has not gone down well with the U.S.
On Trump’s claim of a “Christian genocide,” the group acknowledged Nigeria’s insecurity challenges but insisted the violence was driven by economic interests rather than religious animosity.
“People are indeed being killed, but these bandits and terrorists are after resources, not religion,” Ajayi said. “Once communities are displaced, the sponsors move in to exploit their mineral wealth.”
Afenifere commended the Nigerian government’s efforts to address insecurity through recent changes in service chiefs but warned citizens against inflammatory statements that could embolden foreign interference.
“When you speak ill of your country, you give outsiders an excuse to act against it. Nigeria needs help, yes, but war is not the answer,” the group cautioned.
The organization concluded by urging Nigerians to learn from history, reminding them that U.S. military interventions in other nations have often left behind instability.
“None of the countries where America has intervened militarily has found peace. We must be wise enough to see beyond the surface,” Ajayi said.