Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir David Lawal has declared that American Christians possess legitimate rights to support and defend their Nigerian counterparts facing persecution. This statement came during a television interview where Lawal reacted to recent US government allegations about attacks on Christians in Nigeria and former President Donald Trump's military action warnings.
Biblical Justification for International Christian Solidarity
Lawal strongly argued that such international intervention aligns perfectly with biblical principles of Christian brotherhood. The former SGF emphasized that defending fellow believers transcends national boundaries and ethnic differences, citing specific Christian teachings that mandate mutual protection among believers worldwide.
"In the Bible, we are taught to be our brothers' keepers," Lawal stated during the interview conducted on November 11, 2025. "If American Christians decide to come to the aid of Nigerian Christians because they are in distress, that is Biblical. They are within their right to do so if Christians feel they are unable to defend themselves."
Government's Security Responsibilities Questioned
The former government official placed significant responsibility on Nigerian authorities to ensure citizen safety and welfare. Lawal asserted that the government's failure to provide adequate security creates justification for affected groups to seek external assistance when domestic protection mechanisms prove insufficient.
"The government should assure us they can give us the peace and prosperity we desire," Lawal emphasized. "If they are unable to do that, they cannot blame any part of society that decides to seek help from anywhere."
Criticism of Government Response to Security Concerns
Lawal also expressed strong dissatisfaction with how Nigerian authorities typically address security concerns raised by citizens. He accused the government of routinely dismissing genuine alarms about insecurity and instead deploying supporters to publicly attack those voicing concerns.
"When you talk to government, they send people to insult you and say all sorts of things," Lawal revealed. "The government should secure us, and if they do, we can then join them to tell the Americans to stay away from our land."
The former SGF's comments highlight growing international attention to religious freedom issues in Nigeria and underscore the complex relationship between domestic security challenges and potential foreign intervention based on religious solidarity.
