US President Donald Trump has issued strong criticism of Nigeria, calling the country “a disgrace” and accusing the federal government of not safeguarding its people.
Trump made the comments on Fox News Radio’s ‘The Brian Kilmeade Show’ on Friday.
“I think Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace. They’re killing people by the thousands. It’s a genocide. And I’m really angry about it,” he said.
“And we pay, you know, we give a lot of subsidy to Nigeria which we’re going to end up stopping.
“The government’s done nothing. They are very ineffective. They’re killing Christians at will. And you know until I got involved in it two weeks ago — nobody even talked about it.”
His remarks come as the US continues to monitor rising violence in Nigeria, where armed groups, bandits, and extremist factions have carried out widespread killings, kidnappings, and community raids.
On Friday, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwarra LGA of Niger State.
The Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reported that 315 people — including 303 students and 12 teachers — were taken from the school.
Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the state police command, noted in a statement that tactical police units, military personnel, and other security forces have been deployed to the area.
This attack followed the abduction of 25 female students from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State.
During that incident, Hassan Makuku, the school’s vice-principal, was killed, while Ali Shehu, a security guard, sustained a gunshot injury to his right hand.
On November 1, Trump warned of possible military action in Nigeria over what he described as the persecution of Christians.