By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
US President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Nigeria, calling the most populous black nation in the world “a disgrace”.
In his latest remarks, Trump, who recently redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, described the Nigerian government as ineffective.
He made the comments during an appearance on Fox News Radio’s ‘The Brian Kilmeade Show’.
“I think Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace. They’re killing people by the thousands. It’s a genocide. And I’m really angry about it. And we pay, you know, we give a lot of subsidy to Nigeria which we’re going to end up stopping.
“The government’s done nothing. They are very ineffective. They’re killing Christians at will. And you know until I got involved in it two weeks ago — nobody even talked about it.”
Trump’s statement comes at a time when President Bola Tinubu dispatched a high-powered delegation to the United States to highlight his administration’s efforts to tackle widespread insecurity.
The delegation, led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, met with senior officials of Trump’s government, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Ribadu’s team also held discussions with Congressman Riley Moore, whom Trump instructed to investigate the situation in Nigeria and report back to him.
Since Trump launched his attack on Nigeria, insecurity in the country has reportedly worsened. Whether there is a direct link between Trump’s remarks and the rise in attacks, as suggested by George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, remains unclear.
Last week, Boko Haram ambushed and killed a Brigadier-General along with several soldiers in Borno State.
On Monday, bandits abducted 25 female students from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, killing the school’s Vice-Principal, Hassan Makuku, and shooting a security guard, Ali Shehu.
Two days after the Kebbi incident, gunmen attacked a church in Eruku town, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing one person and abducting worshippers.
On Friday, gunmen struck St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting more than 300 students along with 12 staff members.