Nigeria with Andrew

This episode of 'It Could Happen Here' examines the escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and Nigeria, particularly in the context of U.S. military strikes in Nigeria under Donald Trump's administration. Andrew Sage and guest James unpack the narrative of 'Christian genocide' in Nigeria, which has been amplified by far-right figures and Western media, despite evidence that violence in Nigeria is multifaceted—driven by ethnic, economic, and political conflicts rather than solely religious persecution. The hosts critique the U.S. intervention as motivated by strategic interests, including access to Nigeria’s rare earth minerals and a desire to counter Chinese and Russian influence in West Africa, rather than humanitarian concerns. They highlight how the Nigerian government’s failure to protect civilians is real, but the framing of the crisis as anti-Christian is misleading and serves geopolitical agendas. The episode also explores the historical roots of violence, including Western arms flows from Libya and colonial legacies, and calls for grassroots, Nigerian-led solutions over foreign military involvement. Ultimately, the hosts argue that true justice requires confronting transnational systems of power, not just local perpetrators.