(MENAFN) Nigeria has firmly rejected the possibility of any unilateral military action by the United States, asserting that foreign troops are not welcome on its land.

This response came after President Donald Trump threatened potential strikes over alleged religious persecution in the country.

In a special interview with a news agency on Monday, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, called on Washington to respect Nigeria's sovereignty.

He emphasized that the country would prefer support in the form of equipment and intelligence sharing rather than foreign military involvement.

"We do not need the boots of American soldiers on our soil," Bwala stated. "There has to be respect for our territorial integrity."

Trump had recently labeled Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” on Saturday, warning that the US could take measures to "protect" Christians in the country.

However, Bwala strongly disputed these allegations, arguing that claims of a “Christian genocide” were fueled by disinformation from separatist factions, particularly the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Bwala also pointed to a past US congressional hearing in which a lawmaker questioned whether US funding to the CIA had inadvertently supported groups like Boko Haram and other insurgents.

"There have long been concerns about foreign interference," he said, adding that Nigeria’s focus remains on finding solutions rather than assigning blame.

While acknowledging the nation's ongoing security challenges—such as porous borders, a shortage of police personnel, and the scale of insurgent threats—Bwala pointed out the progress that had been made.

“We have a limited number of military personnel, and fewer than 400,000 police officers for a population of 230 million,” he remarked.

“So we are doing our best. If there’s any collaboration we need, it is in the areas of intelligence sharing.”

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