Chad shuts border with Nigeria over Trump’s threat allegations

Tuesday 04 November 2025 - 07:00

By: Sahili Aya

Chad shuts border with Nigeria over Trump’s threat allegations

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno has ordered a complete military lockdown along the country’s southern border with Nigeria, following intelligence reports that armed militants from northern Nigeria were planning to cross into Chad to escape renewed military operations.

According to counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, military sources in N’Djamena confirmed that Chadian troops and armoured units have been deployed along key border corridors linking the two nations.
Makama quoted President Déby as warning that “no armed group or foreign force will be allowed to enter Chadian soil under any disguise.”

The move comes amid escalating regional security concerns, as U.S. President Donald Trump alleged last week that Christians in Nigeria face genocide, remarks that have drawn sharp criticism from Nigerian officials.

Wike Blames Opposition for U.S. Allegations

Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, dismissed Trump’s claims, accusing unnamed opposition leaders of being behind the narrative.
“It is very obvious,” Wike said during a national television interview on Sunday. “The problem we have today is the nature of politics. You can see the collapse of the opposition. No party today is in a position to challenge the President’s return to power.”

Wike did not provide names or evidence linking opposition figures to the U.S. President’s statements.

The Chadian and Nigerian governments have yet to issue a joint statement regarding the border closure, which could significantly impact cross-border trade and regional counterterrorism coordination against Boko Haram and ISWAP factions operating in the Lake Chad Basin.