In early November 2025, Donald Trump publicly warned that the U.S. could cut aid to Nigeria — and even deploy military force — if the Nigerian government failed to stop the killing of Christians. The statement exploded across global news feeds. In this episode we trace the story from the viral headlines to the facts behind the numbers, and ask the tougher questions most coverage skips.

We cover:

• What Trump actually said and how U.S. lawmakers (e.g., Ted Cruz) and media amplified the story.

• Nigeria’s official pushback — from President Tinubu’s advisers to the Deputy Senate President — and the sovereignty questions it raises.

• The on-the-ground reality: the decades-long insurgency of Boko Haram/ISWAP, banditry and farmer–herder violence; who’s dying and why simple religious tallies can be misleading.

• How conflict, weak governance and criminal economies allow jihadist groups to morph into local governing actors.

• The larger geopolitical subtext: could this be a Gaza-deflection narrative, or linked to great-power competition over rare earths and resources? We discuss claims about rare-earth supply chains, foreign contractors, and the strategic value of Nigeria.

• What real solutions look like — from strengthening governance and cutting insurgent financing to international cooperation that respects sovereignty and human rights.

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