Nigerian Legal Expert Condemns US Invasion Threats
Prominent Nigerian lawyer and political analyst Barr Gideon Ebong has issued a strong call to action, urging Nigerian citizens to firmly reject what he describes as "veiled threats of neocolonialism" from the United States. This urgent appeal comes in response to recent statements by former US President Donald Trump suggesting potential military intervention in Nigeria.
Trump's Controversial Statements on Nigeria
In a recently circulated video that has sparked international concern, Trump explicitly discussed the possibility of deploying American troops or conducting air strikes in Nigeria. These remarks followed his official designation of Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" on October 31, 2025, citing alleged persecution of Christians in the country.
When questioned by a journalist about whether he envisioned "US boots on the ground or air strikes in Nigeria," Trump responded with concerning ambiguity: "Could be, I mean a lot of things. I envisage a lot of things. They are killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria... That part of the world, very bad. They are killing Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We are not going to allow that to happen."
The former president escalated his rhetoric through an official statement posted on the White House X account, declaring that Christianity faces an "existential threat" in Nigeria. He accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christian communities from extremist attacks, particularly in the northern regions, and announced immediate consequences including:
- Halting all US assistance and aid to Nigeria
- Directing the US Department of Defense to prepare for potential military action
- Warning that America might "go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing"
- Vowing to "wipe out the Islamic terrorists"
Nigerian Response to Foreign Intervention
In his reaction cited by Legit.ng on Monday, November 10, 2025, Barr Gideon Ebong presented a compelling counter-argument to Trump's threats. The legal expert emphasized that Nigeria does not require foreign intervention to address its security challenges, asserting that the solution lies within national capacity and political determination.
"Nigerians should be able to spot at first sight indices of new colonialism rather than seeing a gift from promoters of foreign agendas," Ebong stated. "Independence entails courage, and our government must focus on defeating terrorists within and outside the North."
The lawyer stressed that what Nigeria truly needs is political will and proper mobilization of national resources rather than external military involvement. His comments reflect growing concern among Nigerian intellectuals and political analysts about maintaining national sovereignty while addressing internal security issues.
This developing situation represents a significant test for Nigeria's foreign relations and internal security policies, as the country navigates between addressing genuine security concerns and resisting what many perceive as unwarranted foreign interference in its sovereign affairs.
