Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), has charged Nigerian Christians and Muslims to rally behind the Federal Government over the threats by US President Donald Trump to invade the country after designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”.
He cautioned against the growing diplomatic tension between Nigeria and the United States, describing the “Christian genocide” narrative as a false narrative.
Buratai stated this in an article posted on Facebook titled “Mutual Security, Shared Prosperity: A Strategic Path Beyond the US-Nigeria Stalemate.”
He warned that acting on the narrative could lead to grave strategic and diplomatic consequences for both countries.
According to him, the confrontation between the United States and Nigeria, fuelled by the threat of foreign military intervention, represents “a perilous crossroads” that could either lead to catastrophic miscalculation or create an opportunity for a stronger partnership.
He said the notion of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria was “a dangerously reductive distortion,” stressing that any U.S. action based on such misinformation would amount to a strategic blunder and an existential threat to Nigeria.
Buratai advised the U.S. government to abandon coercive and militaristic approaches, which he said would only weaken its credibility and push Nigeria closer to global rivals such as China and Russia. Instead, he urged Washington to pursue “resolute, private collaboration” through intelligence sharing, counter-insurgency support, and engagement built on verified data rather than “inflammatory fiction.”
He further called on the Tinubu administration to take decisive diplomatic steps to counter the negative global narrative. According to him, Nigeria’s “strategic silence” in the face of such claims has become a major national security liability.
“The threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty and corporate existence demands that every citizen, Muslim and Christian alike, rally with unwavering unity behind the government,” he said.
“Our most potent shield will be demonstrable progress—through improved security and economic self-sufficiency initiatives such as the Dangote Refinery.”
