Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has criticised recent comments by United States President Donald Trump, describing his designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution of Christians as misleading and capable of inflaming religious tensions.

Speaking on Democracy Now, Soyinka said Trump’s sweeping assertions distort Nigeria’s complex security dynamics and risk deepening existing divisions.

Trump had earlier alleged that Christians were being targeted by radical Islamists and threatened possible U.S. military action against Nigeria claims the Federal Government has firmly rejected.

Soyinka cautioned that Nigeria’s insecurity must not be confused with a religious war.

“We must separate Nigeria’s long-standing internal problems from President Trump’s recent response. The Christian–Islam, or Islam-versus-the-rest dichotomy has existed for decades. It became truly horrendous when politics got mixed up with religious differences,” he said.

He accused successive Nigerian governments of exploiting religion for political advantage and failing to prosecute those responsible for extremist violence, thereby worsening impunity.

Referring to the lynching of a student accused of blasphemy, Soyinka said the refusal to bring perpetrators to justice fuels a false narrative of a Christian–Muslim conflict.

“In truth, we are dealing with extremists political Islamists, sometimes known as ISWAP or Boko Haram not with Muslims as a people,” he stated.

According to him, extremist groups have aligned with global terrorist networks and acquired sophisticated weapons that at times overwhelm the Nigerian military.

“When we have sweeping statements like Trump’s, it doesn’t make things easier. It expands regions of hostility and makes peaceful resolution even more difficult,” he warned.