Ex-Presidential Aide Says U.S. Missionary Alex Barbir Critical Of Tinubu Govt Over ‘Christian Killings’ Ordered To Leave Nigeria

A former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has claimed that Nigerian authorities have ordered American missionary Alex Barbir to leave the country over allegations of inciting religious tensions.

Ahmad served as the Personal Assistant on New Media to former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2016 to 2019, and subsequently as Special Assistant on Digital Communications from 2019 to 2023.

The former presidential aide, who is a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the assertion in a statement on Wednesday, citing information from what he described as a reliable source.

“A reliable source has informed me that the hate monger, Mr. Alex Barbir, has been ordered by the authorities to leave this country,” Ahmad said Wednesday.

He further alleged that Barbir had engaged in activities capable of destabilising communities since his arrival in Nigeria.

“Since arriving in Nigeria, he has been attempting to ignite religious tensions, particularly in communities he visited across the North Central region,” he added.

Ahmad stressed the importance of safeguarding national unity, warning against actions that could threaten peace and coexistence.

“Our nation’s peace and unity must never be compromised and anyone found promoting division should be held accountable,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official confirmation from government authorities regarding the alleged directive.

Barbir has also not publicly disclosed that he has asked to leave Nigeria by the authorities. The American missionary has been critical of the Nigerian government, he recently condemned President Bola Tinubu leadership over killings in Jos on Palm Sunday.

On Sunday, at Anguwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, no fewer than 26 persons were confirmed dead following the deadly Palm Sunday attack, with more victims still hospitalised.

In a fresh video released on Monday morning and obtained by SaharaReporters, lifeless bodies of victims were seen lying out, as community members struggled to come to terms with the scale of the killings.

In February, Barbir alleged that Fulani militia were behind a wave of killings across parts of Nigeria, accusing the Federal Government of failing to act and attempting to suppress what he described as a targeted campaign against Christians.

Barbir, who recently visited Nigeria, made the claims while addressing concerns over insecurity in several states in an interview with American based news outlet, CBN News.

“The Fulani terrorists are massacring terrorists Christians across Nigeria, they are taking over land, the Nigerian government are doing nothing about it,” he said.

He further dismissed suggestions that Boko Haram insurgents were primarily responsible for the violence in certain regions, insisting instead that armed Fulani groups were to blame.

“In Benue, it’s not Boko Haram; in Plateau, it’s not Boko Haram; in Taraba, it’s not primarily Boko Haram; in Kaduna, it’s not Boko Haram, it’s Fulani that are going about killing, massacring,” he said.

The missionary also accused the government of shielding perpetrators and downplaying reports of attacks on Christian communities.

“We need to deal with them, the government is not doing anything, they are basically covering them up. They are paying billions to lobby, saying there is no Christian genocide,” Barbir alleged.

Questioning what he described as a culture of silence, he added, “Why are we hiding the truth, who is going to be the one to say the truth, fight for the people and life of Nigerians, if it’s just me, I will do it.”

He called on Christians to be more vocal, stating, “We need more people, we can’t be Christians and stay on the sidelines.”

Barbir’s comments come amid previous reports in which he accused the Benue State Government of attempting to frustrate his plans to rebuild Yelwata village, which was attacked by bandits.

He was quoted as saying he wanted to construct a market for the people of Yelwata, but the government rejected the proposal and instead sent him a market blueprint valued at N300 million.

He insists the project can be completed for no more than ₦60 million.

Barbir also claimed that there’s no market in any Nigerian village that is worth N300 million, alleging that certain individuals were exploiting the suffering of Benue indigenes affected by bandit attacks for personal gain.