Gregory W. Meeks and Sara Jacobs, two prominent members of the US Congress, have denounced President Donald Trump’s threat to launch a military assault in Nigeria due to supposed Christian genocide.
Meeks, a ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Jacobs, a ranking member of the Africa Subcommittee, characterized Trump’s remarks as “irresponsible and reckless” in a joint statement.
Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the Trump administration was also rejected by the senators, who claimed it oversimplifies the complicated nature of violence in the nation.
“The designation ignores the fact that land competition and resource scarcity, rather than religion, are frequently the driving forces behind conflicts between farmers and herders. Both Muslims and Christians have been targeted by terrorist organizations, particularly in northern Nigeria, where villages are still being attacked by criminal gangs known as bandits, according to the statement.
Noting that “all Nigerians deserve protection,” they applauded President Bola Tinubu’s initiatives to advance interfaith unity and enhance security.
Meeks and Jacobs further denounced as a “reckless response to distorted facts” Trump’s vow to “defend Christians” with potential military action.
“President Trump’s threat of military force is extremely reckless. Offering security support is one thing, but threatening to intervene is quite another. The politicians warned that such rhetoric could lead the US into yet another needless conflict.
The lawmakers cautioned that Trump’s proposal to stop US aid to Nigeria would harm important development and humanitarian initiatives.
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