Hundreds of members of an Islamic movement group flooded the streets of Kano on Saturday to protest against statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently accused Nigeria of allowing genocide against Christians and hinted at possible U.S. military intervention.

The protesters, mostly members of the Shi’ite movement, carried placards with bold messages such as “We condemn Trump’s threat to attack Nigeria,” “There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria,” and “America wants to control our resources.”

Videos and photos from the protest, shared by Hon. Nuhu Sada the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for the Kaduna State House of Assembly in Zaria Kewaye Constituency showed large crowds chanting anti-American slogans.

On his official X (formerly Twitter) page, Sada wrote:

“Thousands of people in Kano State have come out to strongly condemn the remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump about attacking Nigeria. What is your opinion?”

The Kano demonstration comes days after a similar protest in Lagos, where participants chanted “Leave us alone, America!” while carrying placards reading “Nigerians united against U.S. threat of military invasion.”

President Trump had last week designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution of Christians.

He warned that Washington might intervene militarily if the Nigerian government failed to halt what he described as ongoing killings of Christians across several states.

The Federal Government swiftly dismissed the U.S. President’s statement as false and misleading.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Trump’s remarks “completely misrepresent Nigeria’s security and religious realities.”

“There is no genocide against Christians in Nigeria. What we are facing is a shared national security challenge caused by terrorism, banditry, and extremism that affect all citizens equally, regardless of religion,” the minister stated.

He urged the international community to rely on verified information rather than political rhetoric, adding that Nigeria remains a sovereign nation capable of defending its territorial integrity.

The protests highlight growing anger across northern Nigeria, where many view Trump’s comments as an insult to national sovereignty and a ploy to destabilize the country.

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to rescind the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The demand follows revelations that Amupitan authored a 2020 legal brief describing violence in parts of Nigeria as “genocide against Christians and minority groups.”

The document, titled “Legal Brief: Genocide in Nigeria – The Implications for the International Community,” was released by the International Committee on Nigeria (ICON) and officially signed by Amupitan’s law firm.

In a statement issued on Friday, the SCSN expressed “deep disappointment and grave concern” over the content of the brief, describing it as “provocative, distorted, and bigoted.”

The council argued that the claims made in the document are divisive and undermine Nigeria’s unity, peace, and stability.

“If indeed Prof. Amupitan authored the document, his submissions are unbecoming of a person of learning and dangerously inimical to the unity of our country,” the statement read.

The SCSN rejected the characterisation of the Northern crisis as “Christian genocide,” arguing that the violence in Northern and North-Central Nigeria is multifaceted, affecting both Muslims and Christians.

The council cited humanitarian data indicating that Muslims have suffered more casualties in these conflicts, particularly in regions like Borno, Zamfara, and Katsina, where the majority of victims are Muslim.

It described the conflicts as rooted in systemic issues such as poverty, neglect, and social injustice, rather than religious targeting.

The council also criticised attempts to link the insecurity in the North to the 19th-century jihad of Sheikh Uthman bn Fodio, calling such references a “malicious distortion of history.” It defended the jihad as a movement of moral and social reform, not hatred or extermination.

Raising concerns about Amupitan’s neutrality, the SCSN questioned his ability to oversee national elections fairly, given the alleged bias reflected in his past writings.

“Presiding over Nigeria’s electoral system requires the highest standards of neutrality, fairness, and inclusivity. Prof. Amupitan’s record raises serious doubts about his ability to ensure free and fair elections,” the council stated.

The SCSN urged President Tinubu to review and reverse Amupitan’s appointment to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

The council also called on Nigerians to reject divisive narratives and focus on common challenges such as injustice, corruption, and insecurity, while reiterating its commitment to promoting peace and unity across religious divides.

The Adamawa State Police Command refuted social media claims that the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state was beheaded by terrorists.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the police identified the report, which originated from a Facebook user named “Lionman Lioni,” as false and malicious, designed to incite fear and religious tension among residents.

Police spokesman, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, stressed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo Morris, had categorically dismissed the rumour, confirming that no such incident had occurred anywhere in Adamawa State.

Nguroje urged the public to disregard the fabricated report and verify sensitive information from credible sources before sharing.

He further disclosed that an investigation has been launched to identify and prosecute those responsible for spreading the misinformation.