Nigerian Security Expert Slams Trump and Nicki Minaj: ‘Adding Salt to Injury’ Amid Rising Violenc
LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigeria’s spiraling insecurity took a surreal turn this week as US President Donald Trump and rapper Nicki Minaj drew international fire for amplifying claims of Christian persecution in the country. Security expert Bulama Bukarti lambasted the duo for turning a humanitarian crisis into “political rhetoric and entertainment,” even as gunmen abducted dozens of schoolgirls in Kebbi State on November 18, 2025. The backlash underscores frustrations over foreign narratives that, critics say, ignore the multifaceted roots of violence affecting all Nigerians.
The Spark: Trump’s Threat and Minaj’s UN Spotlight
President Trump’s November 1, 2025, post on Truth Social labeled Nigeria an “existential threat” to Christians, alleging thousands killed by “radical Islamists.” He directed the Pentagon to prepare for potential military action if atrocities persist, a stance echoed by Republican figures like Senator Ted Cruz. Nigerian officials, including President Bola Tinubu, countered that the nation upholds religious liberty, with violence often tied to resource disputes rather than faith alone.
Enter Nicki Minaj. On November 19, the Trinidadian-born rapper spoke at a US Mission to the UN event in New York, introduced by Ambassador Mike Waltz as a “witness” to the plight. Minaj thanked Trump for “prioritizing this issue” and decried burned churches and fearful families, insisting, “This isn’t about taking sides—it’s about standing up against injustice.” Her words, following a supportive X reply to Trump, went viral, blending celebrity advocacy with conservative messaging.
The event, timed amid Nigeria’s latest horrors, amplified Trump’s narrative but drew swift condemnation for sidelining local voices.
Bukarti’s Outrage: ‘While Nigerians Are Dying’
Bulama Bukarti, a London-based security analyst and lawyer specializing in West African extremism, unleashed on Channels Television’s Politics Today on November 19. “Donald Trump and Nicki Minaj are adding salt to injury,” he said. “While Nigerians are dying, they are using the opportunity for political rhetoric and entertainment.”
Bukarti highlighted the irony: Minaj, who has no direct ties to Nigeria, was platformed at the UN over “eminent experts, survivors, and families” back home. He questioned the seriousness: “A musician who has never been to Nigeria… knows nothing about Nigeria.” The critique resonated amid a fresh Kebbi school abduction, where over 100 girls were taken from a boarding school in Maga, Danko Wasagu, echoing the 2014 Chibok crisis.
Bukarti’s comments, shared widely on X, framed the interventions as opportunistic, potentially stoking ethnic and religious divides for US domestic gains.
- Key Quotes from Bukarti:
- On exploitation: “It tells you how seriously these people take our lives.”
- On UN snub: “None of [our experts or victims] was invited… instead, a musician.”
- On broader impact: “They are using the opportunity for political entertainment.”
Nigeria’s Insecurity Crisis: Beyond Religious Lines
Nigeria’s violence—banditry, kidnappings, and clashes—has claimed over 2,000 lives in 2025 alone, per the Council on Foreign Relations. The Kebbi attack, just days before Minaj’s speech, saw gunmen on motorcycles storm the school, abducting pupils and staff in a region plagued by herder-farmer disputes and Boko Haram affiliates.
Analysts like the BBC note that while some attacks target Christians—such as church burnings in Plateau State—most stem from land, water, and ethnic tensions, hitting Muslims and Christians alike. The Associated Press emphasized: “Everyone is a potential victim, regardless of background.” Pope Leo XIV referenced Nigeria in a November 17 X post on global Christian discrimination, but without endorsing invasion threats.
Trump’s rhetoric aligns with evangelical lobbies, but critics fear it could justify intervention, echoing past US actions in Iraq or Libya.
- Recent Incidents in Nigeria:
- November 18: 100+ schoolgirls abducted in Kebbi; rescue operations ongoing.
- October 2025: 45 killed in Benue herder-farmer clashes.
- Yearly toll: 8,000+ displacements from banditry in Zamfara and Katsina.
- Root causes: Poverty (40% rate), arms proliferation, weak policing.
Divided Reactions: Backlash, Support, and X Fury
Minaj’s MAGA-adjacent pivot—praised by outlets like Hindustan Times as a “full-blown rebrand”—sparked polarized responses. Supporters hailed her courage: One X user posted, “Nicki Minaj used her platform at the UN to call out the targeted killings… This isn’t about politics, it’s justice.” Italian outlet Secolo d’Italia lauded her for denouncing a “genocide.”
Detractors, however, saw opportunism. Sahara Reporters reported Nigerians “tackling” Minaj for backing Trump’s “Country of Particular Concern” label. On X, @Kynsofficial warned of war’s consequences: “When the consequences… all of our families will feel it.” Another called it “MAGA propaganda” to distract from Palestine. Bukarti’s clip amassed 1,763 likes on Channels TV’s post, with replies accusing him of “genocide denial.”
TMZ noted Minaj defending herself amid backlash, clarifying her stance as anti-persecution, not pro-invasion. X threads like @EKPOtexm’s exposed alleged denial campaigns, tagging global media for truth.
Implications for Nigeria-US Ties: Aid Cuts or Escalation?
Trump’s threats recall his first-term sanctions on nations flouting religious freedoms, potentially slashing US aid—$500 million annually to Nigeria for health and security. Bloomberg labeled Minaj’s echo of “false claims” a risk for oversimplification. Nigerian X users like @Realguccistaboi blamed domestic failures: “If our government acted right… will Donald Trump see an opportunity?”
As Tinubu assured Kebbi parents of safe returns, the row highlights a diplomatic tightrope: Welcoming awareness without inviting meddling.
In essence, Bulama Bukarti’s rebuke captures a nation’s raw pain, as Trump and Minaj’s high-profile interventions clash with Nigeria’s ground realities. While intent may vary—advocacy versus exploitation—the fallout risks deepening divides. True progress demands amplifying local solutions, not foreign spotlights, to end the cycle of abductions and loss before more salt wounds the injury.
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