Trump’s Warning Against Killings of Christians Not a Threat to Nigeria – Northern CAN Chairman

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. Joseph Hayab, has clarified that the comments attributed to former US President Donald Trump regarding Nigeria were misrepresented.

Speaking on Arise Television on Wednesday, Hayab emphasized that Trump did not threaten to invade Nigeria but instead urged the Federal Government to take decisive action against terrorists targeting Christians.

“Listening to what Trump said, Trump never said he was going to come to fight Nigeria. There’s a twisting of all these things. Trump simply said, ‘Go after these terrorists; if you don’t go after them, we can come and go after them.’ So, who is afraid of Trump coming to Nigeria?” Hayab stated.

The cleric stressed that acknowledging the reality of attacks against Christians is crucial for national healing. He called on government officials to engage in honest dialogue about the crisis rather than dismiss victims’ pain.

“You can’t tell someone who is a victim, who is in pain, that his cries are not true. Once we stop doing that, then we’ll find a solution. Let’s admit that people came and killed Christians, and they came in the name of religion. They came as Islamic fundamentalists,” Hayab said.

This clarification comes after Trump reportedly stated that he had asked the US Department of Defense to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria if the government “continues to allow the killing of Christians.”