Former Senator Kabiru Marafa has expressed support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat of possible military action in Nigeria, saying the warning could compel authorities to intensify efforts against insecurity.
Marafa, who represented Zamfara Central in the Senate from 2011 to 2019, stated this on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“I strongly support the President of America, Donald Trump, for issuing that threat,” he said.
He noted that many Nigerians who criticised Trump’s comments focused on issues of sovereignty, but insisted that the safety of citizens should take precedence.
“I differ with a lot of Nigerians because most people look at it from the perspective of sovereignty and patriotism, which I also subscribe to. But of what importance is sovereignty to a dead man?” he asked.
Marafa argued that Trump’s remarks had renewed global attention on Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly attacks targeting Christians.
Last month, Trump directed the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to stop what he described as the persecution of Christians.
In a social media post, Trump warned that the U.S. would halt all aid and assistance to Nigeria if the killings continued, saying Washington “may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
He added that he had instructed the U.S. “Department of War” to prepare for possible action, describing any such strike as likely to be “fast, vicious and sweet.”
Marafa said the comments had increased pressure on Nigerian authorities to act more decisively. “Trump’s comments have put the Nigerian government under pressure to act,” he said.
Meanwhile, the United States has officially designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged violations of religious freedom and the persecution of Christians.
