ONITSHA — Renowned legal practitioner, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has cautioned the Federal Government against underestimating the diplomatic consequences of the recent warlike remarks made by United States President Donald Trump regarding alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria.
In a statement titled “When the Eagle Roars: President Trump’s War Directive and the Diplomatic Reverberations Nigeria Must Not Ignore,” Ejiofor urged the Nigerian government to take Trump’s threats seriously, stressing that “when a man who commands the world’s most sophisticated military machine speaks, wisdom demands that nations listen.”
According to him, “when that man is Donald J. Trump—someone known for turning words into weapons—one must read beyond the lines of his fiery statements.”
Ejiofor noted that Trump’s recent post on his Truth Social account, where he described Nigeria as a “disgraced country” and suggested that the U.S. might “go in guns blazing,” should not be dismissed as empty talk.
“It is a thunderclap with diplomatic tremors,” the lawyer warned.
He emphasized that every statement from the Commander-in-Chief of the world’s most powerful military force carries weight, and Trump’s history of swift, decisive actions should compel Nigerian authorities to take his comments with utmost seriousness.
Ejiofor broke down Trump’s message into three key elements:
1. The phrase “USA may very well go into that now disgraced country guns blazing” indicates both readiness and frustration with what the U.S. perceives as Nigeria’s moral and security decline.
2. The claim that Trump has “instructed the Department of War to prepare for possible action,” even if unofficial, should send shockwaves through diplomatic and intelligence circles.
3. The description of any potential attack as “fast, vicious, and sweet” mirrors the kind of rhetoric that has preceded previous U.S. military interventions.
“When the Eagle of the West clears its throat, the wise dove listens,” Ejiofor cautioned.
He added that Trump’s labeling of Nigeria as a “disgraced country” reflects deep diplomatic dissatisfaction, especially over the government’s approach to negotiating with armed groups under what he described as “the deceptive banner of peace dialogue.”
Ejiofor questioned the logic behind the government’s public meetings with bandits “draped in ammunition belts like fashion accessories,” while innocent Christians continue to be killed.
“These public shows of appeasement disguised as amnesty are more than national shame—they are moral surrender,” he said.
According to him, powerful foreign nations, particularly those driven by security interests like the United States, will not watch such actions without forming conclusions.
Ejiofor condemned what he called Nigeria’s inconsistent and ineffective approach to insecurity, noting that while officials oscillate between denial and diplomacy, lives are being lost and communities destroyed.
Citing recent viral videos showing the brutal execution of 12 Christians, including a pastor, by jihadist Fulani herdsmen, Ejiofor said such acts constitute a damning national failure.
“If our security system fails to decisively deal with these killers, the resulting vacuum may invite foreign intervention,” he warned. “And when the Americans choose to act, history shows they do not knock politely.”
Ejiofor stressed that U.S. intelligence agencies act based on precision and policy—not speculation—and Trump’s remarks, whether officially sanctioned or not, have already shaped global perceptions.
He urged the Nigerian government to act swiftly and decisively: “It would be wise for the Nigerian authorities to make hay while the sun still shines, because the storm may not wait for diplomatic clearance.”
“The time for excuses is over. The time for action is now,” Ejiofor declared.
