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Tension rose sharply this week after fresh comments from the United States about possible action in Nigeria. In a strong reply, **China** warned the U.S. against using religion or human rights as an excuse to interfere in Nigeria’s affairs. At the same time, officials in Abuja told Washington to respect Nigeria’s independence and stay away from any plan to deploy foreign troops on Nigerian soil.
The Chinese position came from **Mao Ning**, a spokesperson at the Chinese Foreign Ministry. She spoke at a press conference and made China’s stance clear. She said China stands with Nigeria as it follows the path it chooses for its own development. She warned that any country using religion or human rights as a reason to interfere would be acting wrongly. She said China strongly opposes threats, sanctions, or force that aim to change another country’s internal matters.
Her remarks followed public comments by former U.S. President **Donald Trump**, who had said the United States might act if Nigeria did not stop attacks on religious communities. That idea has sparked fierce debate inside Nigeria and abroad.
In Abuja, the Nigerian government also moved quickly to respond. **Daniel Bwala**, a presidential aide, told a television audience that the government rejects any plan to send U.S. troops to Nigeria. He said Nigeria’s leaders will not accept foreign soldiers on their soil. He described some of the recent claims about a targeted campaign against Christians as exaggerated and politically driven. He said many reports are based on partial data and on groups that have clear political aims.
Mr Bwala added that Nigeria has a constitution that protects the rights of all citizens, and that the government is working to tackle insecurity across the country. He said the federal government prefers calls for help and partnership, not threats. He said Nigeria needs equipment, training and intelligence sharing, but not foreign boots on the ground.
The row has exposed sharp differences in how people view the violence and unrest in parts of Nigeria. Some international voices have said that attacks on churches and Christian communities must stop. Others, including some Nigerian officials, have warned that the situation is complicated and that many different groups and motives are involved. They said it is wrong to label the violence as only a single type of religious attack.
Mr Bwala criticised some of the lawmakers and campaigners in the United States who pushed for firm action. He said a number of U.S. senators had relied on reports from groups who do not speak for all Nigerians and who may have their own political aims. He named a separatist group as one source of the data that has been widely quoted. He said those claims have been amplified abroad and used to create pressure on Nigeria at international level.
In the face of the international talk, many ordinary Nigerians reacted with concern. Some fear foreign intervention could make matters worse. Others hope more international attention will push the Nigerian government to act faster to protect communities under attack.
Security experts say the situation is delicate. They point out that Nigeria faces a mix of problems: insurgency in the north, communal clashes in the middle belt, banditry in some states and kidnapping in others. They warn that a single approach cannot solve all these problems. The experts say that help from abroad is useful when it respects national laws and works with local security forces. They also say that any military action by an outside power without clear legal backing would be risky and could violate Nigeria’s right to manage its own affairs.
For now, the diplomatic temperature remains high. China has publicly backed Nigeria’s right to handle its problems without outside pressure. Abuja has said it will accept assistance, equipment and training when it is offered in the right way. Washington’s next steps are being watched closely at home and in capitals across the world.
The row raises a number of questions: Will Nigeria get more international support for tackling its security problems? Will foreign powers offer help in the form of training and intelligence rather than troops? And how will Nigerian leaders balance the need for security with the demand that their nation’s independence and laws be respected?
As events develop, many Nigerians say they want two things above all: peace in their villages and towns, and a clear plan by their government to stop attacks and protect lives. The world now watches to see whether diplomacy can calm the situation and bring real help to communities that need it.
