There was mild drama on the floor of the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Senator Jibrin Barau, disagreed openly over the recent threat by United States President Donald Trump to take military action against terrorists in Nigeria. The American President had claimed that the Nigerian government was not doing enough to stop what he described as “a Christian genocide” in some parts of the country.
The disagreement began after Akpabio addressed a report by a social media platform, RANT HQ, which claimed that he had dismissed Trump’s concerns and told him to “focus on the U.S.” The platform quoted Akpabio as saying that Nigerians were not complaining about killings and that the country was satisfied with its situation.
The Senate President strongly denied the report, calling it “malicious and completely fabricated.” He insisted that he never made such comments and that the Senate had not yet taken a formal position on Trump’s statement.
“Somebody will sit in the comfort of his room and produce a report and fake pictures from 2023, claiming that the Senate President replied to President Trump,” Akpabio said angrily during plenary. “Who am I to answer Trump? It is the Presidency that will respond to the American President, not the Senate. Social media should not be used to break Nigeria,” he added.
However, Senator Barau, the Deputy Senate President, interrupted with a contrary view. He said he was not afraid to speak his mind about the matter.
“I’m not scared of Trump,” Barau declared. “I’m a Nigerian and Nigeria is a sovereign nation. I’m a parliamentarian and I can speak. Don’t be scared of Trump. You can say your mind about Trump. We are a sovereign nation.”
The statement caused a brief stir in the chamber, as some senators murmured in surprise. Akpabio quickly intervened, instructing the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, to delete Barau’s comments from the official records of proceedings. He explained that Barau’s comments did not represent the position of the Senate and should therefore not appear in the record.
According to Akpabio, the matter of Trump’s threat was sensitive and could have diplomatic consequences if handled carelessly. He said that the Senate would only take a collective decision on the issue after the federal government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Presidency, had stated Nigeria’s official position.
President Donald Trump, who returned to power in the United States after the 2024 election, recently stirred global attention when he threatened to take military action against terrorist groups in Nigeria. He accused the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to the killing of Christians, especially in the Middle Belt and northern parts of the country. Trump’s statement came during a rally in Texas, where he mentioned Nigeria among “nations of particular concern” for religious persecution.
This is not the first time the U.S. has raised concerns about religious violence in Nigeria. In 2020, during Trump’s first term, the U.S. State Department had designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act. The designation was based on reports of attacks by armed groups on Christian communities and lack of accountability for perpetrators.
However, Nigeria was removed from the CPC list in 2021 during President Joe Biden’s administration. The reintroduction of the issue by Trump in his current term has reopened old diplomatic tensions between Washington and Abuja.
Nigeria has for years struggled with violent attacks by terrorists, bandits, and armed herders, leading to thousands of deaths across the country. While most of the violence has complex ethnic, economic, and religious dimensions, international observers often view it through the lens of religious persecution, especially when Christian farming communities are affected.
During Tuesday’s plenary, Akpabio distanced himself and the Senate from any statement against the U.S. President. He said that the report by RANT HQ was an attempt to cause division between Nigeria and the United States and to damage the reputation of the National Assembly.
“The post was fake. It was made to cause friction and put the Senate in disrepute,” Akpabio said. “I have petitioned the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the source of the fake news. The Cybercrime Unit should find the character behind it.”
The Senate President explained that only the Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, could officially respond to such international issues. “The Senate will only act when we know the direction of the executive on this matter,” he added.
Senator Jibrin Barau’s intervention, however, gave the matter a political twist. His insistence that he was not afraid of Trump was seen by some senators as unnecessary grandstanding. Others viewed it as a patriotic defense of Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Barau, who represents Kano North, has often presented himself as outspoken and independent-minded. His comments appeared to challenge Akpabio’s cautious diplomatic tone, suggesting that Nigeria should assert itself as a sovereign nation capable of responding to any foreign criticism.
The controversy once again highlights the growing danger of misinformation on social media in Nigeria. In recent years, several high-profile politicians and public officials have been victims of fake quotes, doctored videos, and misleading posts that spread quickly online.
The federal government has repeatedly warned Nigerians against spreading unverified information, especially on sensitive issues involving religion, security, and international relations. The Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015 criminalizes the deliberate spread of false information intended to cause harm or unrest.
Akpabio used the incident to call for stronger regulation of online content. “Social media should not be used to destroy our unity,” he said, warning that fake news could damage Nigeria’s image abroad and undermine public trust in institutions.
At the end of the heated session, the Senate resolved to wait for an official briefing from the federal government on the matter. It is expected that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide clarification on Nigeria’s diplomatic stance regarding Trump’s comments.
For now, the Senate leadership appears divided — Akpabio calling for restraint and due process, while Barau insists on assertiveness and national pride.
