A mild protest broke out on Thursday at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, as a group of Nigerians gathered to denounce what they called interference by the United States in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
In a short video circulating on social media, the protesters were seen holding placards and chanting, “Leave us alone oh, America! Leave us alone oh!” The demonstration attracted public attention and sparked mixed reactions online.
The protest came days after reports emerged that former U.S. President Donald Trump had issued a stern warning to the Nigerian government. Trump, who is seeking another term in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, was quoted as saying that America might consider taking action — possibly military — if the Nigerian government fails to stop what he described as the “killing of Christians” by Islamist militants.
Trump’s reported comments have stirred debate across Nigeria. While some citizens support his position, arguing that it could pressure the government to do more to protect Christian communities in the North, others see it as an unwelcome intrusion into the country’s sovereignty.
At the protest in Alausa, demonstrators expressed anger at what they described as a threat to Nigeria’s independence. “America cannot tell us how to run our country,” one protester shouted. Another said, “We don’t need any foreign army in Nigeria. We can solve our problems ourselves.”
However, not everyone is convinced that the protest was entirely spontaneous. Some social media users and political observers have suggested that the rally may have been sponsored by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to defend the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They claim the demonstration was a way to show that Nigerians reject external interference and to counter the perception that the government is failing to address insecurity.
In recent years, Nigeria has faced serious attacks from Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and other armed groups, especially in the North-East. Thousands of civilians, including Christians and Muslims, have been killed or displaced. Successive governments have promised to end the violence, but progress has been slow.
