The United States launched air strikes in Nigeria using information from unverified sources.
This is according to a New York Times report.
The report indicates that the U.S. relied on information from Emeka Umeagbalasi, a screwdriver trader and small NGO operator in Onitsha, Anambra State.
This has raised concerns about the accuracy of the intelligence behind the strikes and the broader narrative of a Christian genocide in Nigeria.
The New York Times article identified Emeka Umeagbalasi, a local screwdriver seller, as the provider of intelligence cited by U.S. lawmakers.
“The man, Emeka Umeagbalasi, owns a tiny shop selling screwdrivers and wrenches in this market in Onitsha, the commercial hub of southeast Nigeria. But this screwdriver salesman is also an unlikely source of research that U.S. Republican lawmakers have used to promote the misleading idea that Christians are being singled out for slaughter in Africa’s most populous nation. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, Representative Riley Moore of Virginia and Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey have all cited his work.” NY Times stated
The report notes that U.S. lawmakers, including Riley Moore, Ted Cruz, and Chris Smith, have repeatedly cited his work, which former President Trump used to justify air strikes in Nigeria.
The strikes follow a series of U.S. actions tied to allegations of a Christian genocide in Nigeria.
The reliance on unverified data raises questions about the credibility of U.S. military actions in Nigeria and the potential consequences for civilians.
This highlights the broader challenge of balancing advocacy, data reliability, and international military action.