The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has denied a viral social media post falsely attributed to her that criticized President Bola Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s security challenges
The post, circulating widely under the headline “Trump didn’t ‘hit’ us – our leaders did,” falsely claimed that Okonjo-Iweala accused Nigerian leaders of prioritizing speeches over action in tackling banditry and insurgency. It also allegedly urged Tinubu to “stop the damage control speeches” and “secure the people.”
Responding via her verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Okonjo-Iweala denounced the post as fake and malicious, warning the public against sharing or believing the misinformation. She revealed that legal action is being taken against those responsible.
“Beware, this story going around on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook is false! We are taking action! The person who did this could not even spell my name,” she wrote.
She also condemned the impersonation, calling on the culprits to take responsibility instead of hiding behind her identity. “Whichever coward did this should write the message in their own name and not hide behind mine or anyone else’s! Scammers and 419ers, stop!” she added.
Okonjo-Iweala’s statement came amid heightened tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that Christians in Nigeria were being targeted. On his Truth Social platform, Trump warned that the United States might “go in guns blazing” if the alleged attacks continued, sparking criticism both internationally and domestically.
President Tinubu and the Nigerian government swiftly responded, reaffirming the country’s commitment to democracy, religious freedom, and national unity. Tinubu, via his X account, emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and that his administration works closely with leaders of all faiths to promote peace and security.
Rejecting portrayals of Nigeria as religiously intolerant, Tinubu described such claims as inaccurate and inconsistent with the country’s diverse and unified society. He pledged to continue collaborating with the United States and other global partners to ensure the protection of all communities, regardless of faith.
Despite the pushback, Trump reiterated on Wednesday that the U.S. would be prepared to take direct action if the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria persisted. He stressed that his administration “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening” and urged Congress to investigate, directing lawmakers including Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole to report on the situation.
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