Reflecting On A Tense Encounter: How Late Buhari’s Had Face-To-Face Encounter With Trump On Nigeria’s Religious Violence
By Oludare Joshua
One year before the end of his first term, former President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria had a pivotal face-to-face meeting with then-President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. In a provocative moment during their discussion, Trump inquired, “Why are you killing Christians in Nigeria?”
Taken aback by the unexpected question, Buhari managed to remain composed as he listened to his host voice additional concerns. The Nigerian leader explained that the longstanding conflicts between farmers and herders in Nigeria are primarily motivated by cultural and environmental factors, rather than religious or ethnic strife.
He elaborated on how the flow of arms and light weapons into Nigeria has been exacerbated by the destabilization of Libya, a situation that the U.S. government, under the Obama administration, has acknowledged was mishandled.
Buhari expressed appreciation for the United States’ support in Nigeria’s battle against terrorism, highlighting the recent agreement for the sale of 12 Super Tucano A-29 warplanes and related armaments aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
He further detailed the federal government’s multi-sectoral approach to combat insurgency, which involves collaboration among various governmental agencies to address the socio-economic and political repercussions of these conflicts. As part of their strategy, the Nigerian military launched “Operation Safe Corridor,” aimed at the de-radicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration of surrendered Boko Haram members into society.
To foster peaceful coexistence between herdsmen and farmers, Buhari outlined government initiatives focused on enhancing security and enforcing policies to protect borders, thereby securing farmers’ access to land.
Reflecting on this significant encounter during a retreat at Aso Rock one year into his second term, Buhari recounted, “When I met Trump, it was just the two of us. He looked me in the face and said, ‘Why are you killing Christians?’ I wondered how anyone would react to that.”
Buhari maintained that he remained calm and shared the historical context of the herder-farmer conflict, emphasizing that it predates both himself and Trump. He pointed to factors such as climate change and population growth that drive herders to follow traditional migration routes regardless of land ownership.
“It’s a cultural problem, not a religious one,” he stated, clarifying that the conflicts have roots in traditional grazing practices that were once regulated by earlier Nigerian leaders. He lamented that while previous administrations established gazetted grazing routes to minimize disputes, later governments have allowed encroachments on these critical paths, worsening tensions.
Buhari praised the First Republic’s leaders for responsibly managing limited resources to create vital infrastructure for grazing, such as earth dams and windmills. He noted that herders who allowed their cattle to damage farms faced legal repercussions and were required to pay compensation.
The former president’s explanation aimed to dispel the misconception that the violence occurring in Nigeria’s rural populations was targeted at specific religious groups. “I believe I was among the few African leaders from less developed countries invited,” Buhari remarked. “I tried to make him understand that the crisis in Nigeria has historical roots, not religious motives.”
Buhari served as Nigeria’s president from 2015 to 2023 and was among a select group of African leaders invited to meet Trump during his presidency. This encounter remains a significant moment in the context of international perceptions of Nigeria’s internal conflicts.
