A group of prominent Nigerians under the banner of Concerned Nigerian Citizens has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resist the temptation of visiting the United States, following tension over allegations of genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

Addressing journalists in Kaduna Wednesday, the group said the recent threats by former U.S. President Donald Trump to reclassify Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and consider military intervention were not only provocative but also capable of deepening divisions within the country.

Reading from a joint statement signed by six notable Nigerians,l including Dr Bilkisu Oniyangi, Prof. Usman Yusuf, Dr Ahmed Shehu, Dr Aliyu Tilde, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed and Kalli Al-Ghazali, the group said Nigeria must handle its challenges with restraint and maturity rather than bowing to external pressure.

The group described Trump’s recent remarks as “reckless and disrespectful to Nigeria’s sovereignty,” warning that such rhetoric could inflame religious tension and play into the hands of opportunistic global actors seeking to destabilise the Sahel region.

“The real tragedy is that Nigerians, and particularly our leaders, are responsible for our circumstances today,” the group stated. “We have been poorly led while we died and bled in the hands of killers. Nigerians must now speak as one and demand that those responsible for protecting us do their jobs,” the group said.

They urged President Tinubu to address Nigerians directly on the issue, reassure citizens that government was on top of the situation, and prioritise security over foreign travels.