Wole Soyinka has weighed in on US President Donald Trump’s fiery remarks about alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Trump had ordered the US Department of Defence to prepare for “possible action” in Nigeria, warning Abuja to act fast to stop the “killing of Christians.”
Nigeria’s federal government pushed back immediately, insisting that insecurity affects all groups and that Trump’s narrative is misleading.
Speaking on Democracy Now, Soyinka said Trump’s sweeping claims distort reality and risk inflaming religious tensions that already run deep. He warned that framing Nigeria’s crisis as Christians versus Muslims is inaccurate and dangerous.
“We must separate Nigeria’s long-standing internal problems from President Trump’s recent response,” he said. “The Christian–Islam, or Islam-versus-the-rest kind of dichotomy has existed for decades. It became truly horrendous when politics got mixed up with religious differences.”
Soyinka argued that Nigerian politicians have long weaponised religion for power while failing to hold extremists accountable, creating an atmosphere where impunity thrives. He recalled the lynching of a female student accused of blasphemy, noting that her killers were caught on camera boasting, yet still walked free.
“When perpetrators of such horrors go free, it strengthens the perception that a brutal war is going on between Christians and Muslims,” he said. “In truth, we are dealing with extremists, political Islamists, known sometimes as ISWAP or Boko Haram, not with Muslims as a people.”
He added that extremist groups have forged ties with global terror networks, gaining access to advanced weapons that sometimes overpower Nigeria’s security forces. Soyinka also blamed past Nigerian leaders for failing to decisively confront violent fundamentalism.
“When we have sweeping statements like Trump’s, it doesn’t make things easier. It expands the regions of hostility and makes peaceful resolution even more difficult.”
Soyinka also revealed his US visa was revoked because of his criticism of Trump’s administration. “I have a feeling that I haven’t been flattering Donald Trump, and I see no reason to do that,” he said. He added that Trump should feel “flattered” that he once compared him to Idi Amin, the notorious former Ugandan ruler.
“Trump has said he likes war, I’m quoting him. Idi Amin was a man of war and brutality,” Soyinka said. “Idi Amin even called himself the last king of Scotland. He claimed he was going to liberate Scotland from the British.”