Nigeria turns to France for help to combat insecurity – Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron says Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has requested increased support from France to tackle escalating violence across northern Nigeria.

The appeal comes weeks after the United States warned it could take action to protect Nigeria’s Christian communities.

Nigeria has faced a fresh wave of insecurity in recent weeks, including mass kidnappings from schools and a church, as attacks intensify across volatile northern regions.

The U.S. government has accused Nigeria of failing to safeguard Christians, with former President Donald Trump suggesting possible military action, claims Abuja says oversimplify a complex security crisis in which armed groups target people of all faiths.

Macron said he spoke with Tinubu by phone on Sunday and reaffirmed France’s commitment to assisting Nigeria as it battles multiple security threats.

“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,” he wrote on X.

“At his request, we will strengthen our partnership with the authorities and our support for the affected populations.”

Macron also called on other international partners to step up engagement, warning that “no one can remain a spectator” in addressing the threat posed by violent extremist groups.

He did not specify what form the assistance would take. Since 2022, France has significantly withdrawn its military presence in West and Central Africa, ending major counterterrorism operations in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and Côte d’Ivoire, with its final bases in Senegal also closing amid rising anti-French sentiment.

It now prioritises training, intelligence sharing and targeted support based on specific country requests.

Washington said last month that it may consider measures ranging from sanctions to expanded Pentagon counterterrorism engagement as part of efforts to pressure Nigeria to protect its Christian population better.