Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA), on Monday convened an emergency meeting with service chiefs and heads of key security and intelligence agencies at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Abuja.
The meeting followed reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had directed preparations for possible military action in Nigeria.
Security sources disclosed that the meeting, which began in the afternoon, was called to assess the implications of President Trump’s recent remarks, which accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from Islamist militant groups.
Trump, in comments made late Saturday, indicated that the U.S. military was being readied “to act in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militancy.”
The statement has sparked serious concern within both diplomatic and security circles in Nigeria.
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Sources familiar with the meeting said the NSA convened the meeting to ensure a coordinated national security response, review intelligence assessments, and evaluate potential diplomatic and security consequences stemming from the U.S. pronouncement.
While no official statement has been released yet, sources indicated that the outcome of the meeting will be communicated in due course through the Office of the National Security Adviser.
