Protect Nigerians against spate of killings, Trump tells Buhari
WASHINGTON, D.C.—President Donald Trump of the United States of America, yesterday, warned that his government would not tolerate continued religious killings in Nigeria.
Trump said: “We are deeply concerned by the religious violence in Nigeria, including the burning of churches and killing of Christians. We encourage Nigeria and the federal, local, and state governments to do everything to immediately secure the communities and protect innocent civilians, including Muslims and Christians.”
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President Buhari assured the American President that efforts were being made to ensure that killings in the country, which he insisted was caused by militia trained by the late former Libyan President, Muammar Gadaffi, were stopped.
Trump issued made the remark as the two leaders met yesterday in the White House where they also discussed issues on security and the need to have better working relationship between Nigeria and the United States.
Trump said: “We have met before; we have a great relationship. I look forward to our discussions today again, especially as it relates to terrorism. Terrorism here, terrorism all over the world is a hotbed and we are going to stop it.
“Also, we have had very serious problems with Christians who are being murdered in Nigeria; we are going to work on that problem very, very hard because we cannot allow that to happen.”
Commenting on the activities of ISIS, President Trump said: “We are very much dealing with ISIS, especially in the last one month.” He then inquired from President Buhari the efforts his government was making to tackle Boko Haram and the release of the abducted school girls kidnapped in Chibok, and Leah Sharibu, the only Dapchi schoolgirl still in custody of Boko Haram.
After a closed-door meeting between the two leaders, President Trump said efforts are being made to remove trade barriers between the two countries and called on Nigeria to support the US in the bid to host the 2026 World Cup.
Responding, President Buhari said it is a privilege and honour to be invited by the American President and also showed appreciation to the government of the United States, especially with regards to military assistance.
He said people should not underrate what happened in Libya, especially in the wake of the herdsmen rampage but noted that he is doing his best to stop the killings, although it is taking time.
Buhari, who noted that there were efforts to stabilize security in the country said: “We appreciate the commitment of the United States to get rid of terrorism; we are very grateful for it.
“I don’t think we should underrate terrorists from Libya. With the death of Gaddafi, people were being recruited from the Sahel, because this is the only training they have.
“We are doing our best to make sure we stop the cross-border movement and so on. It will take time. We are happy with the United States for trying to see the end of ISIS. You know the Boko Haram in Nigeria had at a time, made a statement that they belong to ISIS.
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