TRUMP BRANDS NIGERIA ‘A DISGRACE’, SAYS GOVERNMENT HAS DONE NOTHING TO STOP KILLINGS

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By: Sefiu Ajape

US President Donald Trump has criticised Nigeria, describing the country as “a disgrace” while accusing the federal government of failing to protect its citizens.

Trump made the remarks on Fox News Radio’s The Brian Kilmeade Show on Friday.

“I think Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace. They’re killing people by the thousands. It’s a genocide. And I’m really angry about it,” he said.

“And we pay, you know, we give a lot of subsidy to Nigeria which we’re going to end up stopping.

“The government’s done nothing. They are very ineffective. They’re killing Christians at will. And you know until I got involved in it two weeks ago — nobody even talked about it.”

His comments come as the United States continues to express concern over rising violence in Nigeria, where bandits, armed groups and extremist fighters have been responsible for mass killings, kidnappings and village raids.

On Friday, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwarra LGA of Niger State.

According to the Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), 315 people — including 303 students and 12 teachers — were abducted during the incident.

Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the state police command, said in a statement that tactical police units, military personnel and other security operatives have been deployed to the area.

The attack occurred shortly after the abduction of 25 female students from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State.

During that incident, Hassan Makuku, the school’s vice-principal, was killed, while Ali Shehu, a security guard, sustained gunshot injuries to his right hand.

On November 1, Trump threatened military action in Nigeria over the alleged persecution of Christians.