The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has refuted a viral social media post falsely attributed to her, which allegedly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s handling of insecurity in Nigeria.

The post, titled “Trump didn’t ‘hit’ us – our leaders did,” purportedly claimed that Okonjo-Iweala accused Nigerian leaders of prioritising rhetoric over decisive action against banditry and insurgency. It further alleged that she urged President Tinubu to “stop the damage control speeches” and “secure the people.”

Reacting on Saturday via her verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, Okonjo-Iweala dismissed the message as fake and malicious, stating that it did not originate from her. She cautioned the public against spreading false information and disclosed that legal measures were being taken against those behind the impersonation.

“Beware, this story circulating on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook is false! We are taking action! The person who did this couldn’t even spell my name correctly,” she wrote.

Condemning the impersonation, she added, “Whichever coward did this should write the message in their own name and not hide behind mine or anyone else’s! Scammers and 419ers, stop!”

Her statement came amid growing debate over recent comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed that Christians were being targeted in Nigeria.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump warned that the United States might “go in guns blazing” if the alleged killings continued, sparking widespread reactions.

In response, President Tinubu and the Nigerian government reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to democracy and religious freedom.

Through a post on his X handle, Tinubu stressed that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and that his administration engages leaders of all faiths to promote peace and security. He dismissed foreign portrayals of Nigeria as a religiously intolerant country, describing them as inaccurate and contrary to the nation’s unity and diversity.

Reaffirming Nigeria’s position, Tinubu stated that religious tolerance “has been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so.” He pledged continued collaboration with the United States and other global partners to promote mutual understanding and protect communities of all faiths.

However, Trump later reiterated his readiness to take direct action if the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria persists, stating that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening.”

He also urged members of Congress to investigate the situation, directing Congressman Riley Moore, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, and others to report their findings.