Reactions continue to pour in online after former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, shared a report claiming that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) hired American firms to promote a narrative of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
The former governor posted the report on his verified X account on Friday, November 21, 2025, at a time when Nigeria is facing heightened international scrutiny. This follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, with warnings that the U.S. would act against Islamic extremist groups if the government failed to halt attacks on Christians.
El-Rufai’s post referenced filings under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in Washington, suggesting that IPOB and its associates engaged lobbying firms in the United States to advance claims of Christian victimization. The report also emphasized that the violence affects both Christian and Muslim communities, questioning the claim that only Christians are targeted.
The post sparked a flurry of online reactions, with users taking to X and other platforms to debate the issue. Some supported the governor’s disclosure, saying it highlights the role of foreign actors in amplifying local grievances for political ends, while others criticized it for potentially heightening religious tensions in the Southeast.
Screenshots circulating online show a variety of responses, from anger and disbelief to calls for impartial investigations. Commenters debated the motives of IPOB and the American lobbying firms implicated, while some urged calm and stressed the importance of verified facts.
Political commentators observed that the timing of El-Rufai’s disclosure is noteworthy, arriving soon after public U.S. criticism of Nigeria’s handling of religious violence. Some analysts suggest the revelations could influence global perceptions of the conflict in the Southeast and affect Nigeria’s diplomatic relations.
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