By Charles Pemu 
ABUJA/LAGOS—Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday convened an emergency meeting with service chiefs and heads of security and intelligence agencies in Abuja to address the severe diplomatic and security crisis triggered by US President Donald Trump’s threat of military intervention.
The high-level session, held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), was prompted by Trump’s weekend warning that he would not hesitate to take military action against Nigeria if the government failed to protect Christians from Islamist militant groups. Late Sunday, Trump escalated the threat, confirming that ground operations and air strikes “could be” part of the US attack plan in Nigeria, stating, “They’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen.”
Trump had earlier directed the Pentagon to map out a plan of attack, declaring on his Truth Social platform that if the killings were not stemmed, the US would attack, and “it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our Cherished Christians.” The NSA’s meeting, according to sources, assessed the implications of Trump’s statement, with the aim of coordinating a unified national security response. The official outcome is pending communication from the NSA’s office.
Chad Shuts Borders, Citing Security Concerns
The regional fallout from the US threat was immediate, with Chad announcing the immediate closure of its borders with Nigeria.
Military sources in N’djamena, which houses the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), confirmed that President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno ordered a complete military lockdown. This drastic measure follows intelligence suggesting terrorist elements from northern Nigeria were preparing to flee into Chadian territory ahead of alleged US military plans. The Chadian president was quoted as warning that no armed group or foreign force would be allowed to enter Chadian soil under any disguise, reiterating that the closure is a preventive step to safeguard Chadian sovereignty.
Political Leaders React: Calls for Diplomacy vs. Blame
The unfolding crisis has drawn sharp criticism and calls for urgent action from political and socio-political leaders across Nigeria.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke called for renewed diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the United States, throwing his weight behind solutions within the context of the decades-long Nigeria-American partnership. He urged the US to support Nigeria in fully implementing its recently developed national security strategy, describing the American intervention as a wake-up call to rigorously enforce new security measures.
Meanwhile, the 2023 Labour presidential candidate, Peter Obi, attributed the US designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) to a “lack of competent and committed leadership” and poor resource deployment. Writing on his X handle, Obi said the unwarranted and unprovoked killings were significantly avoidable with competent leadership, urging both nations to engage in constructive diplomatic dialogue.
The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, kicked against Trump’s threat, but squarely blamed the Federal Government for the rising insecurity, citing its failure to implement state police and restructure the country. Afenifere, through its leadership, demanded that the Tinubu administration immediately appoint ambassadors to the US and other nations to establish diplomatic buffers, insisting that President Bola Tinubu must not allow foreign military or humanitarian intervention.
Similarly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) held the Tinubu administration responsible for Nigeria’s blacklisting, pointing to worsening insecurity and diplomatic failures that have plunged the nation into global disrepute. The opposition party claimed nearly 15,000 Nigerians had lost their lives since President Tinubu took office, accusing his government of neglecting its duty to protect life and property.
Experts Warn of Escalation and Economic Crisis
Experts in international diplomacy and security have unanimously cautioned against the US threat, describing it as dangerous and counterproductive.
Professor Femi Otubanjo of the NIIA dismissed Trump’s threat as “frivolous,” “unserious,” and a reflection of his own personality, noting that such a statement does not represent a genuine US foreign policy decision. Professor Oladiipo Kolawole opined that if carried out, the military action would lead to escalated violence and reprisal attacks, worsening the humanitarian crisis and undermining Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
Prof. Babatunde Ayeleru of the University of Ibadan warned that the outcome of an invasion would be devastating on Nigeria’s economy, social, and political life, stating emphatically that the insecurity situation would “go from bad to worse.”
From an economic standpoint, Dr. Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), stressed that the pronouncement, regardless of its accuracy, has already generated economic, diplomatic, and perceptional consequences for Nigeria. He cautioned that the threat risks undermining the country’s image as a stable investment destination, unsettling financial markets and eroding investor confidence.