President Bola Tinubu and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on Sunday held talks on the security crisis facing the country, touching on areas of collaboration.
The telephone conversation held as a United States delegation comprising the US ambassador to Nigeria and other top officials parleyed with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, in Abuja, on the reported Christian persecution and killings in the country.
In a message posted on X on Sunday, Macron said he spoke with President Tinubu and affirmed that France will strengthen its partnership with Nigerian authorities.
He wrote, “I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria, @officialABAT. I conveyed France’s solidarity in the face of the various security challenges, particularly the terrorist threat in the North.
“At his (Tinubu’s) request, we will strengthen our partnership with the authorities and our support for the affected populations.
“We call on all our partners to step up their engagement. No one can remain a spectator,” the French President added.
Macron also stated that, in fulfilment of Tinubu’s request, his government will cooperate with the Federal Government to provide support for the affected populations.
Macron’s statement follows a wave of gun attacks and kidnappings, particularly in schools and communities across the northern region, that have drawn international condemnation.
The French leader’s solidarity comes days after Tinubu swore in a new Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), with a charge to deliver quick results.
On November 26, Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency, ordering the army, police and intelligence services to immediately expand recruitment and deploy thousands of additional personnel.
He had also asked security agencies to prioritise the safety of schools, farms and places of worship, while governors step up local early-warning systems.
Tinubu’s conversation with Macron also follows broader international scrutiny of Nigeria’s security crisis, especially from US President Donald Trump, who, in early November, threatened to invade the country, citing an alleged genocide against Christians.
Trump recently re-designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations and threatened military intervention.
The Federal Government has consistently rejected claims of Christian persecution, insisting that insecurity in Nigeria cuts across all religions.
