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We Sent US Missionary Alex Barber Out Of Nigeria Because He Created Division, Called For Rwanda-Like Genocide, Says Tinubu Govt

The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has confirmed the expulsion of an American missionary, Alex Barber, accusing him of making inflammatory statements capable of inciting violence and deepening divisions, particularly in Plateau State.

Abiodun Essiet, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central), disclosed this during an interview with TVC on Monday, stating that Barber’s activities posed a serious threat to national unity.

“Yeah, so we’ve realised what Alex Barber has done, so I must inform that Alex Barber is no longer in Nigeria,” Essiet said. “He has been, we can say, removed and sent out of the country because of the work he’s doing, which is creating division.”

She alleged that Barber’s remarks had immediate consequences, linking his speech in Jos to violence that followed shortly after.

“Immediately after he made his speech in Jos, a lot of people didn’t know that two people, two Muslims, were killed immediately after his speech,” she said. “Because of the impact of this provocative speech, which he has been making, he was sent out of the country and is no longer in Nigeria.”

Essiet emphasised that the government acted to prevent a repeat of historical tragedies fueled by divisive rhetoric.

“That’s what the government has done, because we don’t want individuals to come and create division,” she said. “I’ve been to Rwanda a couple of times; I’ve been to the Rwandan Genocide Memorial. As simple as this whole narrative of what Alex Barber was saying is what some foreign actors did in Rwanda, creating a rift between the Hutus and the Tutsis, and that led to a massive genocide.”

Drawing parallels with the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Essiet warned against allowing similar narratives to take root in Nigeria.

“Based on our experience, we don’t want Nigeria to follow that path, because it’s not going to be helpful to anyone,” she added. “We must not allow people who do not understand the history of our crises to divide us.”

She stressed the importance of unity and collective responsibility in addressing the country’s security challenges.

“In Nigeria, it is better when we are united. Nigeria is better when we work together,” Essiet said. “It is very important not to allow people to come and divide us. Let’s call a spade a spade and address issues with honesty and truth.”

The presidential aide also acknowledged the complexity of the Plateau crisis, noting that underlying factors go beyond what is often publicly reported.

“I know there was someone who documented foreign reporting in Plateau State for over 20 years,” she said. “Beyond what people are seeing, there are other critical root causes which need to be addressed, with all stakeholders coming together.”

She called for stronger security measures, including decisive military action against armed groups.

“Most importantly, we need a kinetic approach, because some of the people attacking our innocent citizens are bandits and terrorists, and they need to be dealt with,” Essiet said. “We need the support of our security agencies in ensuring that our borders are protected, so that we do not have an influx of terrorists coming into our communities.”

Appealing for public trust in President Tinubu’s leadership, she reiterated the administration’s commitment to restoring peace in Plateau State.

“It is an appeal to our community to trust Mr President,” she said. “Like he said, he will not come back to pay any condolence visit again, because he is committed to ensuring that there is a new channel to achieve lasting and sustained peace in Plateau State.”

The development comes amid heightened international attention on insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, recently warned that continued attacks in Plateau State could strain diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the United States. In a post on X, Moore condemned the reported killing of Christians in Jos during Palm Sunday, describing it as part of a troubling pattern.

“This Palm Sunday, reports from Nigeria indicate that at least 10 Christians were martyred in the city of Jos,” Moore said. “This is sickening and unacceptable.”

He further alleged a recurring trend of attacks on Christians during religious observances and called on Nigerian authorities to step up security efforts ahead of Easter.

“If they don’t take this threat seriously… there will be significant consequences for Nigeria’s relationship with the United States,” Moore warned.

Barber had earlier claimed in a viral video that recent killings in Jos amounted to “genocide against Christians,” urging the Tinubu administration to take urgent action.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials have confirmed ongoing security cooperation with Nigeria, including the deployment of MQ-9 Reaper drones and about 200 military personnel to provide intelligence and training support in counterterrorism operations.

A U.S. defence official described the effort as collaborative, stating, “We see this as a shared security threat,” while emphasising that American forces are not involved in direct combat operations.

mynd1:
Let little American bastard, take his division to else where. We don't need it in Nigeria.

Every sincere person knows what's happening is not a religion war. These bastards (Boko Haram, Bandits and Co) don't care who's a Muslim or Christian.

IkeOnyia:
How many mosques have they burned down?

givedemwotowoto:
You sent him out of Nigeria to censor reporting about the ongoing genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

You already spent $9 million dollars on PR trying to cover up the genocide.

HacheNoire:
What’s Christian genocide and where is that happening in Nigeria?

Where have terrorist separated Muslims from Christian’s before wrecking havoc?

Y’all should stop peddling the western propaganda! IT WOULD NOT SELL!

Every religion in Nigeria has bared the brunt of terrorism. Claiming only one religion is baring the brunt is stupid and foolish!

TallNigerian:
I would have sworn that the Abiodun Essiet PhD, that I know will never utter such a statement. I am shocked to my marrows to read that such a patriotic, hardworking appointee of this administration can stain her hard earned reputation with such a careless statement.

I really don't know what to say. It's understandable that as a government appointee, you want to please your principal but there is a need to apply utmost diplomacy in many instances to avoid shooting oneself on the foot.

Making such reckless statement (even if true) could easily turn you against the people whom you diligently represent. Alex is currently loved by the Christian population of the Middle Belt and indeed Nigeria. Portraying him in bad light will pitch those people against you automatically.

givedemwotowoto:
If you see a Tinubu supporter speaking, you'll think the person has any atom of integrity or sincerity in them. You won't the person is a lying, betraying, backstabbing coward

givedemwotowoto:
If you see a Tinubu supporter speaking, you'll think the person has any atom of integrity or sincerity in them. You won't the person is a lying, betraying, backstabbing coward

HacheNoire:
I will repeat again! Stop decimating western propaganda!

IT WILL NOT SELL!

Fulani terrorists have attacked and killed residents in Mbatsada, Mbalom Council Ward, Gwer-East Local Government Area of Benue State.

So far, they've only been able to recover about ten bodies. Many are still missing. Search for more victims in the bush is currently ongoing,… pic.twitter.com/gG5JZ7Zr29

— J. C. Okechukwu (@jcokechukwu) April 5, 2026

givedemwotowoto:
Is this the Western propaganda you want me to stop highlighting? This happened hours ago in Benue. How long will you support this failed government, then when they lose out, start backstabbing and betraying yourselves, change monicker and swear to us you never supported them?

Fulani terrorists have attacked and killed residents in Mbatsada, Mbalom Council Ward, Gwer-East Local Government Area of Benue State.

So far, they've only been able to recover about ten bodies. Many are still missing. Search for more victims in the bush is currently ongoing,… pic.twitter.com/gG5JZ7Zr29

— J. C. Okechukwu (@jcokechukwu) April 5, 2026

She alleged that Barber’s remarks had immediate consequences, linking his speech in Jos to violence that followed shortly after.

mynd1:
Let little American bastard, take his division to else where. We don't need it in Nigeria.

Every sincere person knows what's happening is not a religion war. These bastards (Boko Haram, Bandits and Co) don't care who's a Muslim or Christian.

TallNigerian:
I would have sworn that the Abiodun Essiet PhD, that I know will never utter such a statement. I am shocked to my marrows to read that such a patriotic, hardworking appointee of this administration can stain her hard earned reputation with such a careless statement.

I really don't know what to say. It's understandable that as a government appointee, you want to please your principal but there is a need to apply utmost diplomacy in many instances to avoid shooting oneself on the foot.

Making such reckless statement (even if true) could easily turn you against the people whom you diligently represent. Alex is currently loved by the Christian population of the Middle Belt and indeed Nigeria. Portraying him in bad light will pitch those people against you automatically.

TallNigerian:
I would have sworn that the Abiodun Essiet PhD, that I know will never utter such a statement. I am shocked to my marrows to read that such a patriotic, hardworking appointee of this administration can stain her hard earned reputation with such a careless statement.

It's understandable that as a government appointee, you want to please your principal but there is a need to apply utmost diplomacy in many instances to avoid shooting oneself on the foot.

Making such reckless statement (even if true) could easily turn you against the people whom you diligently represent. Alex is currently loved by the Christian population of the Middle Belt and indeed Nigeria. Portraying him in bad light will pitch those people against you automatically.

Tinubu Gov't Is Lying To Nigerians; I Was Not Deported – American Missionary Alex Barber
April 7, 2026
NEWS

American missionary, Alex Barber, has strongly denied claims by the Nigerian government that he was deported from the country, describing the allegation as false and misleading.

Barber, reacting hours after reports of his alleged expulsion surfaced, insisted that he remained in Nigeria and had not been officially removed by authorities.

In a series of statements, he dismissed the government’s position and challenged officials to provide proof of any deportation process.

“2 hours before flight I’m live on Newscentral. DSS attached to me during my mission for protection. Round trip flights. 0 official deportation letter. Embassy never informed of any such desire. These lies only expose the evil in power in Nigeria. See you soon!” he said.

He further refuted claims attributed to Abiodun Essiet, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central), who had earlier stated that Barber was expelled over alleged inflammatory remarks.

“FALSE: If Abiodun Essiet, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu made this statement, they are directly lying to the Nigerian and international community. I’ve never heard of this person, nor had conversation with them. US Embassy denies such claim,” Barber said.

Escalating his response, Barber accused Essiet of deliberately spreading falsehoods and attempting to mislead the public about his status in Nigeria.

“Why have you disgraced the Tinubu government by openly lying about me? @AbiodunEssiet Without any shame you lie to the world. As Nigerian security forces were attached to me, you claim I was deported. Shame on you. The Embassy will be in touch,” he added.

He also noted that the American embassy denied such development.

"US Embassy who denies any such deportation. Any deportation of US citizen must go through the embassy, of which none was made. If such a statement is true let it be known the Nigerian government is intentionally lying to both Nigeria and the international community."

Barber’s denial comes in response to earlier remarks by Essiet during a television interview, where she claimed that the government had taken decisive action against the missionary.

“Yeah, so we’ve realised what Alex Barber has done, so I must inform that Alex Barber is no longer in Nigeria,” Essiet had said. “He has been, we can say, removed and sent out of the country because of the work he’s doing, which is creating division.”

She further alleged that Barber’s statements incited unrest, linking his speech in Jos, Plateau State, to subsequent violence.

“Immediately after he made his speech in Jos, a lot of people didn’t know that two people, two Muslims, were killed immediately after his speech,” she said. “Because of the impact of this provocative speech, which he has been making, he was sent out of the country and is no longer in Nigeria.”

Essiet also defended the government’s actions as preventive, warning against the dangers of divisive rhetoric and drawing parallels with the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

“That’s what the government has done, because we don’t want individuals to come and create division,” she said, adding that Nigeria must avoid narratives that could fuel ethnic or religious conflict.

However, Barber has maintained that no such action was taken against him, insisting that there was no official deportation notice and no communication with the United States Embassy regarding his alleged removal.

The conflicting accounts have raised questions over the accuracy of the government’s position and the circumstances surrounding the missionary’s activities in Nigeria who has been a critic of President Tinubu over handling of the country's security.

He has consistently accused the Tinubu administration of failing to secure different communities in Nigeria.

SaharaReporters

OLAADEGBU:
SaharaReporters

Essiet emphasised that the government acted to prevent a repeat of historical tragedies fueled by divisive rhetoric.