President Bola Tinubu has stated his government is engaging with the world diplomatically following remarks by US President Donald Trump, who threatened military action against terror groups in Nigeria over the alleged mass killing of Christians. The diplomatic push comes as a coalition of northern elders rejected calls by some US right-wing lawmakers to ban Sharia law in the country.
Speaking at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, President Tinubu urged Nigerians not to succumb to despair, promising that the government would defeat every form of terrorism. “We assure all of you that we will defeat terrorism in this country,” Tinubu stated. He pointed to international confidence in Nigeria’s economy, noting, “The success of the $2.3bn eurobond that was oversubscribed by 400 per cent is the most assuring. So, the task ahead is immense; we are engaging the world diplomatically, and we assure all of you that we will defeat terrorism in this country.”
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, said the Federal Government was calm and would not panic over Trump’s threats. He confirmed that formal diplomatic channels with the US had been opened to address the matter. “But there is no panic mode here. We are responding responsibly, steadily, and in the interest of our country,” Idris told journalists. “Have we had any discussions with the U.S.? Yes. Channels have been opened. We prefer that this situation be solved diplomatically,” he added, clarifying that Nigeria’s security operations are aimed at protecting all citizens regardless of religion.
The presidential remarks follow a series of posts from President Trump on his social media platform, in which he labelled Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” and said he had ordered the U.S. Department of War to “prepare for possible action” in Nigeria. This stance was supported by some US lawmakers, such as Ted Cruz, who introduced the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025”, arguing that Nigerian officials who enforce or support Sharia should face sanctions.
In response, northern groups have firmly pushed back against the external pressure. The Northern Elders Forum described the threatened sanctions as “empty threats”. NEF Spokesperson, Prof Abubakar Jiddere, stated, “The Northern Elders Forum has frowned, seriously frowned at this threat, which to me, as far as I’m concerned, is an empty threat. Because even in the U.S., it has not gone through the normal process. It’s just Trump’s personal arrogance that he made this statement.”
The National Coordinator of the Coalition of Northern Groups, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, emphasised that Sharia is a non-negotiable identity for the region. “For the majority of these states, Sharia is not just law, but an identity–deeply tied to faith, culture, and local legitimacy. Any northern governor who attempts to halt or weaken Sharia enforcement would face intense backlash from religious scholars, traditional institutions, and the general public, who see Sharia as divine, not negotiable,” he stated.
International support for Nigeria’s position has come from China. The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, following a meeting with the National Security Adviser, stated, “We oppose any country’s interference in other countries’ internal affairs under the pretext of religion and human rights. We oppose the wanton threat of sanctions and the use of force. China is willing to continue supporting Nigeria in combating terrorism and maintaining domestic stability.”
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