By: Sunday Ameh
The Igbo Community Association in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has described the United States’ recent security warning on Nigeria as a wake-up call for President Bola Tinubu to urgently tackle religious violence and insecurity across the country.
Reacting to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to intervene militarily if attacks on Christians persist, the association’s President-General, Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, said the development, though embarrassing for Nigeria, presents an opportunity for decisive leadership.
In a statement on Sunday, Ellis-Ezenekwe said the U.S. designation of Nigeria as a “country of special interest” highlights years of unchecked terror attacks and government failure to protect citizens of all faiths.
“Nigeria has witnessed decades of religious killings, from the mass targeting of Igbo Christians in the North to the recent brutal attacks in Benue, Plateau, and Southern Kaduna,” he said. “This is an abattoir of innocent lives made worse by government inaction.”
He urged President Tinubu to “seize this opportunity” by launching an aggressive security campaign against terrorists and ensuring justice for affected communities.
According to him, the President should also welcome international support if necessary.
“Too many lives have been lost. If needed, the government should collaborate with the U.S. to end these killings once and for all.”
His comments follow Trump’s recent declaration that the U.S. may stop aid to Nigeria and consider military intervention if the government fails to protect Christian communities. Trump accused Nigerian authorities of neglecting ongoing violence, vowing that any U.S. response would be “fast, vicious, and sweet.”
U.S. Secretary for War, Pete Hegseth, also confirmed that military preparations are underway.
However, the Nigerian government has dismissed claims of religious genocide, insisting that constitutional protections for all faiths remain intact.
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