Kano Muslims stage massive protest over Trump’s ‘Christian genocide’ remarks
Hundreds of Muslim organisations and their supporters flooded the streets of Kano on Saturday to protest against recent remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump accusing Nigeria of tolerating a “Christian genocide” and threatening possible military intervention.
Videos circulating online showed demonstrators carrying placards — some bearing Trump’s image — and chanting anti-American slogans as they marched peacefully from the Kano Central Mosque to Sabon Gari under tight security watch.
The protesters dismissed Trump’s claims as false and inflammatory, warning that such statements could worsen religious tensions in the country. Placards bore inscriptions like “There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria,” while others were written in Hausa.
Trump had earlier placed Nigeria on Washington’s list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” alleging that the government was turning a blind eye to widespread persecution of Christians. He reportedly instructed the Pentagon to explore possible responses, including military options — a move that has triggered diplomatic friction and public outrage.
Nigeria’s federal government swiftly rejected Trump’s allegations, insisting that the country’s security challenges cut across religious lines. Information Minister Mohammed Idris described the former U.S. president’s comments as “misguided,” while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Washington’s assessment failed to reflect the country’s complex realities.
Several Islamic groups in northern Nigeria accused Trump of trying to “weaponise religion” and destabilise the nation.
Meanwhile, reactions have continued to pour in across religious and political circles. The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, urged President Bola Tinubu to engage Washington diplomatically and seek a 90-day window to demonstrate progress in combating terrorism, warning that confrontation could harm ordinary Nigerians.
Global powers and regional bodies have also weighed in. China and Russia publicly opposed any form of military action, stressing that Nigeria’s sovereignty must be respected. Similarly, the African Union warned that foreign intervention could further destabilise West Africa.
Nigeria continues to battle a range of security threats — from Islamist insurgency in the northeast and communal clashes in the Middle Belt to widespread banditry in the northwest. According to Amnesty International, over 1,800 people were killed in the southeast between 2021 and 2023, with both Christians and Muslims among the victims.
