A Nigerian soldier serving with a United Nations peacekeeping mission has said he would rather quit than take part in any military action against his home country, following threats by former U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene in Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians.
The serviceman, identified on Facebook as Opeyemi Falegan, made the comments in a post that quickly circulated online. In the post he warned that any U.S. military move could draw in international forces — including the UN — and pledged he would refuse to fight on Nigerian soil.
“If Trump gets involved in the Nigerian case, then the United Nations will get involved… I will rather quit the military than fight in my home country,” he wrote, adding that Ekiti is his home and source of identity.
Falegan said that while he condemns terrorism and banditry, he could not in good conscience take up arms against his own people. His post has since gone viral, drawing supportive comments from some Nigerians and debate from others about loyalty, duty and the ethical dilemmas soldiers might face in multinational operations.
Context
The statement follows a series of high-profile comments by Donald Trump in which he threatened to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” and signalled potential military steps if attacks on Christians continue. The remarks have provoked strong reactions in Nigeria’s political and civil circles.
Reactions
Social media users reacted strongly to Falegan’s vow — some praised his patriotism and moral stance, while others argued that UN peacekeepers operate under international mandates and rules of engagement that complicate individual decisions. No official UN statement about the post was available at the time of reporting.
Related: Trump Orders Pentagon to Plan Action, Says U.S. May Cut Aid Over Killings of Christians in Nigeria
