President Bola Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions on Sunday regarding Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, focusing on potential areas of cooperation.
Their phone call took place the same day a United States delegation — including the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria and other senior officials — met with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu in Abuja over growing concerns about alleged Christian persecution and widespread violence in the country.
In a post on X, Macron said he had spoken with Tinubu and reaffirmed France’s commitment to working with Nigeria.
“I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria, @officialABAT. I expressed France’s solidarity in the face of the various security challenges, especially the terrorist threat in the North.
“At his request, we will strengthen our partnership with the authorities and our support for affected communities. We call on all our partners to increase their engagement no one can remain a bystander,” Macron wrote.
His message comes amid a surge in armed attacks and kidnappings, particularly in northern communities and schools, which have drawn international criticism.
Macron’s expression of support follows Tinubu’s recent swearing-in of the new Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), and the president’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency on November 26. Tinubu directed the military, police and intelligence agencies to rapidly expand recruitment and deploy thousands of additional personnel. He also instructed security agencies to prioritise the protection of schools, farms and places of worship, while urging governors to strengthen early-warning systems.
The call with Macron also comes as global scrutiny of Nigeria’s security situation intensifies, particularly from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who in early November accused Nigeria of committing genocide against Christians and threatened possible military intervention. The U.S. recently re-designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom issues.
The Nigerian Government has repeatedly denied claims of Christian persecution, saying the insecurity affects citizens of all faiths.
Amid the pressure, Nigeria has been seeking diplomatic support. On November 20, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met with Ribadu at the Pentagon to discuss security strategies. That same day, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa held hearings on Nigeria’s CPC re-designation, and lawmakers briefed the House on its implications. Last Tuesday, House Republicans raised alarms over rising religious violence in Nigeria during a joint briefing ordered by Trump, who had directed Congress to investigate alleged killings of Christians.
Ribadu confirmed hosting a U.S. Congressional delegation in Abuja on Sunday as part of ongoing security consultations. In an update on X, he said the visit followed earlier meetings in Washington, DC.
“This morning, I received a U.S. Congressional delegation on a fact-finding mission to Nigeria, following our earlier engagements in Washington, DC, on shared security priorities,” he wrote.
He added that U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills joined the meeting, noting that his presence underscored the importance both nations place on the discussions.
Ribadu said talks focused on counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability, and strengthening the strategic security partnership between the two countries.
A U.S. lawmaker, Riley Moore, also posted that he had concluded a “very productive” visit to Nigeria, saying he travelled “in the name of the Lord and on behalf of the American people,” although he did not disclose the details of his meetings.
In a related development, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State and Ambassador Mills visited Benue State on Saturday, holding meetings with Governor Hyacinth Alia, Catholic bishops Wilfred Anagbe and Isaac Dugu, and the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse. Although the purpose of the trip was not officially stated, reports suggest it may be linked to U.S. concerns about religious persecution.
Bishop Anagbe has twice briefed the U.S. Congress this year on Christian persecution and insecurity in Nigeria. The Tor Tiv has also described the violence in Benue — particularly the Yelwata attack that killed about 200 people — as “genocide.”
However, Governor Alia recently refuted claims of genocide at a National Human Rights Commission forum, insisting there was no religious, ethnic, or racial genocide in the state.
The governor’s spokesman, Kula Terso, said the Benue meeting with U.S. officials was a private visit, which was why the media was not invited.
Meanwhile, Iorbee Ihagh, leader of the state’s three major socio-cultural groups, said the U.S. visit was likely connected to the allegations of religious genocide. He argued that despite the government’s denials, the attacks in Benue amount to genocide in the eyes of the local population.
He criticised the state government for not showing the delegation the scenes of recent attacks or visiting IDP camps.
“This was a perfect opportunity to take the U.S. team to Yelwata and the IDP camps along the Makurdi highway so they could see things for themselves,” he said.
