France has pledged increased support to Nigeria in the fight against terrorism, particularly in the northern region.
French President Emmanuel Macron gave the assurance in a message posted on X on Sunday after a conversation with President Bola Tinubu.
Macron said France stood in solidarity with Nigeria over its security challenges and would deepen cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
“I conveyed France’s solidarity in the face of various security challenges, particularly the terrorist threat in the North. At his request, we will strengthen our partnership with the authorities and our support for the affected populations,” he wrote.
He urged Nigeria’s international partners to increase their engagement, saying “no one can remain a spectator”.
Macron’s message comes amid recent attacks and kidnappings in parts of northern Nigeria, which have attracted global concern.
The statement also follows renewed diplomatic consultations between Nigeria and foreign partners on counter-terrorism, including a meeting between Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Washington on Nov. 20.
The Federal Government has maintained that insecurity in the country affects all groups, rejecting claims of targeted religious persecutions.
Macron’s statement follows a wave of gunmen attacks and kidnappings, particularly in the northern region, that have drawn international condemnation.
Recall that President Donald Trump recently redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations and threatened U.S. military intervention.
The Federal Government has consistently rejected claims of Christian persecution, insisting that insecurity in Nigeria cuts across all religions.
The situation has prompted the federal government to seek diplomatic aid from the international community.
On November 20, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted Nigeria’s National Security Advisor, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, at the Pentagon to discuss strategies to solve the problem.