“Christian Genocide Is Fallacy, Acting On It Is Profound Blunder” – Ex-Army Chief Buratai Tells Trump

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), under whose watch terrorists killed several Nigerian soldiers and officers, has warned the United States against taking military action over what he described as the “fallacy” of a Christian genocide.

In an article on Sunday he wrote, and titled “Mutual Security, Shared Prosperity: A Strategic Path Beyond the US–Nigeria Stalemate on Sunday”, Buratai claimed that recent rhetoric from Washington risked plunging both nations into unnecessary conflict while undermining long-term cooperation.

His comments come as the United States announced plan for military action in Nigeria to wipe out the Islamic terrorists.

“The current confrontation between the United States and Nigeria, ignited by the spectre of foreign military intervention, represents a perilous crossroads,” Buratai wrote.

He stated that while the situation presents “the danger of catastrophic miscalculation,” it also offers “the potential for a more resilient and mutually advantageous alliance.”

“The ‘Christian genocide’ narrative is a dangerously reductive distortion of Nigeria’s intricate realities. For the United States, acting on this fallacy would be a profound strategic blunder; for Nigeria, it constitutes an existential menace.”

Buratai warned that any coercive approach by Washington would “weaken, not strengthen, American credibility,” portraying the U.S. as a “neo-colonial power instead of a trusted ally.”

“Public ultimatums and intimidation directed at a sovereign nation of Nigeria’s stature—Africa’s largest economy and most populous democracy—weaken, not strengthen, American credibility.

“It actively propels a nation of over 200 million people—and potentially the entire ECOWAS—deeper into the strategic embrace of rivals like China and Russia.”

He argued that the U.S. should replace “public coercion” with “resolute, private collaboration,” emphasising verified data, intelligence-sharing, and targeted support in counter-insurgency and security reform.

“Policy must be grounded in verified data, not inflammatory fiction,” he advised, calling for bipartisan congressional visits to “witness the conflict’s complex dynamics firsthand.

“The US must recognise that Nigeria’s economic vision, embodied by the transformative Dangote Refinery, represents a monumental opportunity, not a threat,” he said. “A stable, prosperous Nigeria is an infinitely more valuable ally than a fractured, dependent state.”

“Nigeria’s rejoinder cannot rest on indignant denials; it must be a swift, sophisticated, and assertive campaign to reclaim its narrative.

“This requires an immediate diplomatic surge… and dispatching high-level delegations of esteemed Christian and Muslim leaders to directly dismantle the genocide falsehood before U.S. decision-makers.”

Calling for national unity, Buratai urged Nigerians—regardless of religion—to rally behind the government in defense of sovereignty.

“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.

“A nation that demonstrably conquers its own challenges and stands united against internal schisms offers no justification for foreign intrusion.”

On Friday, President Trump said that, in response to claims of genocide against Christians in Nigeria, he had redesignated the country as a “Country of Particular Concern.”

He had announced the decision on his Truth Social media platform.

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’ — But that is the least of it,” he posted.

The Nigerian government has denied claims of Christian genocide in the country.

The Bola Tinubu-led Presidency had emphasised that Nigeria’s constitution enshrines the protection of religious rights and that his administration continues to ensure equality for all faiths across the country. (SaharaReporters)