The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) representing the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alongside the Ecumenical Synods of Bishops, Archbishops, Apostles and Senior Clergy, has dismissed United States President Donald Trump’s assertion that recent American military operations have effectively ended the killing of Christians in Nigeria.
The Christian leaders argued that the claim does not reflect the security situation on the ground, maintaining that deadly attacks, kidnappings and violence continue to affect communities across several parts of the country.
Trump had made the remarks during an event in Washington on Friday, where he stated that US military action in Nigeria had significantly weakened those behind attacks on Christian communities.
“As you know, we recently struck Nigeria and largely ended the slaughter of great Christian populations,” Trump said.»
Responding in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, the Chairman of CAN for the 19 northern states and the FCT, Rev. Joseph Hayab, said those directly affected by the violence—not foreign leaders—were best placed to judge whether the intervention had made any meaningful difference.
“The right people who should tell whether Trump has succeeded should be Nigerian Christians or Northern Christians, not Trump himself. But probably he is getting his information from the wrong source,” Hayab said.
He added, “Trump should allow the victims to make that confession, not him. The victims are the right people who can tell whether whatever he has done has yielded any success.”
While acknowledging that US forces had conducted operations against terrorist elements, Hayab insisted that insecurity remains widespread.
“The strategy Trump’s America is adopting is not good enough because after the US forces struck in Sokoto last December, they went on a long recess. They came recently again and killed some ISIS commanders, but people are still being killed here every day,” he stated.
Hayab urged the United States to provide practical assistance instead of making what he described as misleading claims.
“We want help, but the help shouldn’t be propaganda. It should be genuine help, not propaganda or misinformation.”
He also questioned the impact of the intervention, pointing to victims who remain in captivity in states including Oyo, Kwara, Kogi, Katsina and Borno.
According to him, international support should produce visible improvements in the country’s security situation rather than political statements.
The Ecumenical Synods of Bishops, Archbishops, Apostles and Senior Clergy also challenged Trump’s comments, saying there was no clear evidence that the reported US military action had achieved the results claimed.
The body’s International Secretary, Archbishop Osazee William, said he had not seen convincing proof that the intervention significantly reduced the violence.
“I don’t seem to agree with him because, in the first place, I have yet to see evidence of that claim. I think there was a kind of warning strike in Sokoto, but I didn’t see any visible killing.”
William added that the reported operation fell short of what many Nigerians expected from international intervention.
“This is not the kind of intervention we were hoping and looking forward to. We are looking at a good intervention,” he said.
He also expressed concern over reports of possible behind-the-scenes negotiations that could influence the US approach to Nigeria’s security challenges.
The bishops called for stronger and sustained cooperation between the Nigerian government and international partners, saying only coordinated efforts would help restore peace, improve security and protect vulnerable communities across the country.
