A Nigerian social media user has sparked online debate with a claim that President Bola Tinubu sent a covert signal to former US President Donald Trump just hours before a reported military strike against terrorist groups in Sokoto state.
Viral Claim Links Presidential Greeting to Military Action
The controversy began when a Facebook user, Innocent Tito, pointed to a Christmas Day message posted by President Bola Tinubu. In his festive greetings to Nigerian Christians, Tinubu tagged several world leaders, including Donald Trump.
Shortly after the Christmas message was shared, reports emerged of a deadly attack on ISIS-affiliated terrorists in northern Nigeria, specifically in Sokoto. The strike was widely reported as being ordered by Donald Trump, who had previously issued a stern warning to terrorist groups over alleged attacks targeting Christians in the region.
Connecting these two events, Innocent Tito made a post that quickly went viral. He wrote: "Wow. I see why Tinubu tagged Trump this morning with the Merry Christmas wishes of Christians. It was a sign to go ahead."
Mixed Reactions Flood Social Media
The man's interpretation of the president's social media activity triggered a wave of reactions from other Nigerians online, revealing a spectrum of opinions on national security and foreign intervention.
One user named Eze commented cynically, calling it "another chapter in our national theatre: external help, internal denial." Another, Felix, argued that such actions would not solve Nigeria's security crisis, stating, "If they want to end insecurity they should go after those sponsoring it, all of this is world politics."
Some comments expressed support for the reported strike. George noted a pattern, saying, "I knew something was coming after Netanyahu spoke on the same issue... those men don't talk without following it with action." Simon dismissed the idea of Tinubu's involvement, asserting, "Even without his go ahead, trump already set that attack long ago he's the man of his words."
Other users injected humor and skepticism. Bright suggested Tinubu might have learned of the attack from the news like everyone else, while Eric mocked the conspiracy theory entirely.
Context: Trump's Warning and the Sokoto Strike
The backdrop to this social media storm is a series of serious security developments. Weeks before the reported Sokoto strike, Donald Trump had publicly vowed severe consequences for terrorist groups allegedly attacking Christians in Nigeria. His warning set the stage for the subsequent military action confirmed by news outlets including Legit.ng.
The incident has also reignited discussions about foreign military involvement in Nigeria's fight against terrorism and banditry. In a related report highlighted by Legit.ng, a Nigerian lawyer had previously sent a strong message to Trump after his threats of military action, and a Nigerian UN peacekeeper from Ekiti, Falegan Opeyemi David, had appealed for peaceful resolution of the country's issues.
While the claim of a 'signal' via a Christmas post remains a theory from a single social media user, it has successfully ignited a broader conversation about perception, communication between world leaders, and the ongoing security challenges facing northern Nigeria.
