Christian genocide: They’ve got their long-desired US military base in Nigeria – David Hundeyin on Trump

According to a report by Daily Post on Sunday 8 February, 2026, Nigeria’s outspoken investigative journalist, David Hundeyin, has claimed that the United States has finally secured what it has long been seeking in Nigeria: a military foothold.

He made the remark over the weekend on X, weighing in on comments from a U.S. congressman representing West Virginia’s 2nd District, Riley Moore. Moore had earlier pushed back against accusations that he was involved in a covert effort to split Nigeria along religious lines, an allegation tied to claims of a so-called Christian genocide in parts of the country.

In his clarification, the lawmaker insisted his focus was on protecting vulnerable Christian communities. He also pointed to a newly announced security cooperation agreement between Washington and Abuja, describing it as a meaningful step toward addressing Nigeria’s persistent violence. Those remarks, however, only seemed to sharpen Hundeyin’s criticism.

According to Hundeyin, Moore’s explanation inadvertently confirmed what critics have been saying for some time: that deeper U.S. military involvement was the real endgame. Stripping away the political language, he argued, the agreement signaled success for American strategic interests. As Hundeyin put it, “They have finally got their long-desired US military base in Nigeria, so job done.”

That view has gained traction amid fresh disclosures about U.S. activity in the country. DAILY POST reports that the head of the United States Africa Command, General Dagvin Anderson, has confirmed the presence of American troops on Nigerian soil. Nigerian authorities have been quick to play down the development. Defence Minister General Christopher Musa has said the troops are not engaged in combat roles, framing their presence as supportive rather than operational.

All of this comes against the backdrop of a relationship that only recently began to recover. Ties between both countries took a sharp downturn in October 2025 when U.S. President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern. Not long after, in December, Trump announced that American forces had carried out a strike on a terrorist enclave in Sokoto, in the country’s northwest.

But the mood has shifted again in recent weeks. With new military partnerships and cooperation agreements now in place, US-Nigeria relations appear to be warming, even as debate continues at home over what that growing collaboration really means for Nigeria’s sovereignty and security.

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