President Bola Tinubu held a telephone conversation with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on Sunday to address Nigeria’s escalating security challenges, emphasizing collaboration and international support.
In a message posted on X, Macron affirmed France’s solidarity with Nigeria, pledging to strengthen partnerships and support affected communities. “At President Tinubu’s request, we will cooperate with the authorities to assist the populations impacted by insecurity,” Macron said, calling on all international partners to actively engage.
The discussion follows a surge of kidnappings and attacks, particularly in northern Nigeria, which have drawn global attention. Just days earlier, Tinubu appointed Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.) as Minister of Defence, charging him with delivering rapid results amid growing security concerns. On November 26, Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency, ordering the expansion and immediate deployment of military, police, and intelligence personnel, while prioritizing the protection of schools, farms, and places of worship.
International scrutiny has intensified following US concerns over religious persecution. Earlier in November, former US President Donald Trump labeled Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” and threatened military intervention, citing alleged Christian persecution. The US delegation, including Ambassador Richard Mills and Congressional members, met with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu in Abuja to discuss counter-terrorism, regional stability, and strengthening strategic security cooperation.
Visits by US officials extended to Benue State, where they met Governor Hyacinth Alia, Catholic Bishops, and traditional rulers. The delegation’s tour came amid allegations of religious genocide, with some local leaders describing ongoing attacks as systematic killings, though the state government denied such claims.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, have been released, although authorities have yet to officially confirm the development. The abductions involved 315 individuals, with 50 pupils escaping before rescue efforts intensified across Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States.
Former presidential aspirant Gbenga Hashim and political scientist Prof. Abubakar Siddique have urged urgent reforms to address northern Nigeria’s insecurity, linking it to decades of governance failures, poverty, and youth unemployment. Siddique warned of a “poverty–insecurity trap” threatening national cohesion, calling for holistic interventions including security sector re-engineering, economic diversification, and educational transformation.
The heightened international attention, coupled with domestic reforms and leadership changes, underscores the urgency of stabilizing Nigeria’s northern region and ensuring the safety of vulnerable populations.
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