Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has strongly criticised former United States President Donald Trump for describing Nigeria as a “disgraced country” and threatening military action over alleged persecution of Christians.
Jibrin condemned Trump’s remarks as “un-American” and “a violation of international law,” urging him to retract the statement and issue an apology.
“For the President of the United States to say, ‘Nigeria is a disgraced country, and we will attack you’ this is unacceptable. He should retract that statement and apologise to Nigeria,” Jibrin said in a viral video that circulated on Friday.
The Deputy Senate President argued that Trump’s statement breached diplomatic protocol and international norms.
“If he has any concern about our country, he should follow the legal route through the United Nations, not by threats. To do otherwise is un-American,” he added.
Jibrin also stressed that Nigeria would not be intimidated by external threats. “We are not afraid to tell Trump the truth. He has violated international law, and his approach is unacceptable,” he declared to applause from his audience.
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) also criticised Trump’s comments, describing them as dangerous interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
NEF spokesperson Prof. Abubakar Jiddere warned that northern leaders would resist any attempt at foreign meddling.
“Nigeria is not an appendage of America. Trump is violating UN treaties on non-interference, and we in the North will not tolerate that,” he said.
He accused the U.S. of destabilising nations like Iraq, Libya, Sudan, and Afghanistan under similar pretexts, alleging that America’s real motive was economic, not humanitarian.
MACBAN President Alhaji Baba Othman-Ngelzarma dismissed the U.S. House of Representatives’ resolution calling for sanctions on the association, describing the allegations as “baseless and malicious.”
“We are a legitimate, law-abiding body representing pastoralists across Nigeria and have no link with any criminal group,” he said, adding that the group was compiling documents to defend itself.
The Arewa Youth Consultative Council (AYCC) also criticised Trump’s warning, calling it an attempt to exploit Nigeria’s natural resources under the guise of promoting religious freedom.
AYCC National President Zaid Ayuba Ayuba said, “This threat has nothing to do with religion. It’s about America’s economic interests and Nigeria’s relationship with other global powers.”
He urged the Federal Government to respond diplomatically and warned that any U.S. invasion would only harm innocent Nigerians.
“When the U.S. invades a country, they rarely leave until they get what they want. Ordinary Nigerians will suffer for it,” Ayuba added.
The Nigerian leaders unanimously condemned Trump’s comments, insisting that Nigeria remains a sovereign nation capable of addressing its internal challenges.
They called for diplomatic engagement rather than confrontation to resolve any misunderstandings between the two nations.
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