Yoruba Union Condemns Trump’s Threat, Says Nigeria Already At War With Hunger, Poverty, Insecurity

Ikeja, Lagos State– The Yoruba Union, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has condemned the recent threat issued by U.S. President Donald Trump following his decision to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” describing his statement as reckless, insensitive, and capable of deepening existing tensions within the country.

In a statement released on Sunday by the Union’s Convener, Olusola Badero, through its Home Director, Princess Balogun, the group said that Trump’s remarks were misplaced and failed to reflect the true realities Nigerians face daily.

The Union emphasised that Nigeria does not need any external threat of war, as the country is already fighting internal battles on multiple fronts — hunger, poverty, unemployment, and worsening insecurity.

According to the Yoruba Union, President Trump’s selective approach to justice and democracy exposes a lack of understanding of Nigeria’s complex internal issues.

The group questioned Trump’s moral standing, asking why the U.S. leader never spoke out or took decisive action when armed herders, terrorists, and bandits were killing innocent Nigerians across different regions.

“Where was Donald Trump when Fulani herders and other terrorists were massacring thousands of innocent Nigerians — farmers, women, and children — while the government looked away or, worse still, rewarded the perpetrators with negotiations and amnesty?” Yoruba Union asked.

“Instead of threatening Nigeria with war, Trump should be concerned about promoting global peace and supporting African nations in their struggle for stability and justice.”

The Union further detailed the scale of devastation caused by insecurity in Nigeria, explaining that thousands of people have lost their lives in relentless attacks by terrorists and armed herders. Entire communities have been wiped out, and millions displaced, while the government has failed to protect its citizens or hold the attackers accountable.

“There is no doubt about the incessant killings across the country,” the Union said.

“From Plateau to Benue, from Zamfara to Borno, and from Ogun to Ondo, the story is the same. Innocent farmers are slaughtered on their own lands, and their farmlands are taken over by marauding herders. In many northern states like Katsina, Sokoto, and Niger, terrorists now impose taxes on local farmers and dictate who can access the land. This is no longer a war of religion or ethnicity; it is a war of survival.”

The group noted that the insecurity crisis in Nigeria has deepened due to the government’s continued failure to prioritise the welfare of its citizens.

It accused successive administrations of being more concerned with political power than with the lives of ordinary people, saying that Nigeria’s leaders have consistently chosen silence, complicity, or appeasement in the face of terror.

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá argued that Trump’s comments, rather than helping, could worsen Nigeria’s fragile unity by fueling fear, division, and panic among the populace.

“The United States must understand that Nigeria’s problems cannot be solved through external threats or coercion. What we need is genuine partnership — in technology, intelligence, and logistics — to strengthen our fight against insurgency and banditry,” the statement read.

The Yoruba Union urged President Trump and the U.S. government to offer constructive assistance, such as providing modern security equipment, sharing intelligence data, and supporting economic programs that empower Nigerian youth.

According to the Union, such initiatives would do more to stabilise the country than war rhetoric or sanctions.

“The injustices and human rights violations under the APC-led government should be the real focus of international concern, not threats that could ignite further violence,” it added.

“War is not an option for Nigeria. We have seen the ruins of Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya. Nigeria must not tread that path.”

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá also cautioned the Nigerian government against the continued policy of negotiating with terrorists and compensating them under the guise of peacebuilding.

It insisted that victims of herders’ attacks and other forms of terror must be adequately compensated, while perpetrators must face the full weight of the law.

“Justice must be served. Those who have turned our farmlands into killing fields should not be walking free. The government’s failure to prosecute them is a betrayal of every Nigerian who still believes in justice,” the Union said.

Yoruba Union urged Nigerians to reject foreign threats and focus on holding their leaders accountable for the nation’s worsening crisis.

“Nigeria cannot afford to become another war-torn nation,” it warned.

“We are already at war with hunger, poverty, and insecurity. What we need now is healing, unity, and responsible governance — not intimidation from abroad.”

The Yoruba Union reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights and dignity of the Yoruba people and all Nigerians, stressing that the path to peace lies in justice, accountability, and a renewed sense of national purpose.