A viral social media claim alleging that former US President Donald Trump accused Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of petitioning the White House over Christian genocide has been thoroughly investigated and debunked as completely false.
The False Claim Circulating on Social Media
The misinformation originated from a Facebook user named Lyke Henry, who claimed that Trump had stated Tinubu was responsible for reporting Christian killings to the White House in 2014. According to the fabricated post, Trump allegedly said: "Tinubu Was the One Who Reported Christian Killings in 2014—I've Just Approved His Own Petition!"
The Facebook user further quoted Trump as saying: "Tinubu Asked the White House to Invade Nigeria in 2014 Over Christian Killings— I've Just Approved His Own Request Under His Government!" These statements have been verified as entirely fabricated with no basis in reality.
Comprehensive Fact-Checking Process
Independent verification by Dubawa and other fact-checking organizations found no evidence supporting these claims. A thorough examination of Trump's official X (formerly Twitter) handle and the White House's official communication channels revealed no verified reports about any such accusation or petition.
Extensive keyword searches across both local and international credible news outlets similarly yielded no corroborating reports. The investigation concluded that the claim about Trump accusing Tinubu of petitioning the White House over alleged Christian genocide in 2014 is completely false and unfounded.
Background Context and Ongoing Developments
The false claim emerged amid actual ongoing investigations by the US House Subcommittee on Africa, which has been preparing for public hearings to review President Trump's redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern regarding religious freedom.
President Tinubu has consistently rejected Trump's claims of widespread Christian persecution in Nigeria, maintaining that the country upholds constitutional guarantees of religious freedom. The Nigerian government has emphasized its commitment to protecting all religious groups equally.
The African Union Commission has also strongly defended Nigeria's sovereignty and religious freedom following US threats of military action. In a firm statement, the AU urged diplomacy and cooperation over external interference in Nigeria's internal affairs.
Historical context reveals that this isn't the first time Nigeria has faced such allegations. Previous administrations, including that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, have similarly stood up to international pressure regarding religious freedom claims.
Conclusion and Public Advisory
The Facebook user responsible for spreading this misinformation, Lyke Henry, was discovered to have a history of purveying false and unverified information through his social media accounts. The public is advised to verify such claims through credible news sources before sharing them.
No credible media outlets, official US government channels, or the White House have shared any information supporting the viral claim about Trump accusing Tinubu of petitioning regarding Christian genocide allegations.
