Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday convened a closed-door meeting with service chiefs and the heads of security and intelligence agencies in Abuja, officials say, amid escalating diplomatic shock waves after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered American defense planners to “prepare for possible action” over alleged attacks on Christians in Nigeria. Trump’s post on Truth Social threatened to halt all U.S. aid and — if killings continued — to “go into that now-disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’” a formulation that has prompted urgent consultations in Abuja and alarm across the region.
Jocomms Correspondent reports that the Ribadu meeting — held behind closed doors and with an agenda described only as “security matters” — follows wide international coverage of the president’s remarks and varied responses from Nigerian officials. Local media say Ribadu is expected to brief top editors and media executives after the gathering as the government seeks to clarify its posture and to manage rising public concern. Meanwhile, international outlets note that the White House directive has stirred debate about sovereignty, intelligence assessments, and the scope of U.S. involvement in regional counter-terrorism operations.
Security analysts warn the episode could deepen diplomatic strains and complicate Nigeria’s internal security coordination if not handled with care, while civil society groups caution against rhetoric that could inflame sectarian tensions. With service chiefs now in session and the NSA poised to speak to the press, many Nigerians are asking whether strong words from abroad will translate into concrete international action — or whether this will instead become a dangerous escalation that undermines Nigeria’s sovereignty and fragile peace. Could cooler heads and clear communication prevent a diplomatic crisis from becoming a security one?
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