Claim
A viral social media post has sparked outrage across Nigeria and beyond, falsely attributing a provocative statement to Senate President Godswill Akpabio amid rising tensions with the United States. The anonymous post, widely shared on platforms like Facebook in groups such as “Rant HQ Politics,” claims Akpabio dismissed concerns over violence in Nigeria by stating: “The killing is taking place in Nigeria, not in the USA. Trump should focus on the US. Nigerians are not complaining about the killings; we are fully satisfied with the condition of Nigeria.” The post, accompanied by a photo of Akpabio alongside other officials at a podium, suggests that Nigerian leaders are indifferent to the bloodshed, urging former U.S. President Donald Trump to prioritize American issues. Critics, including opposition figures and diaspora communities, have condemned the statement as tone-deaf and inflammatory. The post rapidly amassed over 1,000 reactions and 2,300 comments within days of its circulation on November 1, 2025. It quickly spread to X (formerly Twitter), sparking debates on foreign intervention, national sovereignty, and Nigeria’s internal security.
Background
The controversy erupted against the backdrop of remarks made by Donald Trump on November 1, 2025, during a rally in Pennsylvania. Trump accused Nigeria of enabling a “Christian genocide” and ordered the Pentagon to prepare “action” against Islamist groups responsible for the deaths of thousands of Christians. He labeled Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom violations, citing over 3,100 Christian deaths in 2025 alone far exceeding global figures. Trump vowed military action if the violence persists, which further stoked tensions. This rhetoric, amplified by conservative U.S. media, led to sharp rebukes from Nigerian officials who emphasized the complexity of insecurity in the country. They pointed to the involvement of Boko Haram, Fulani herder-farmer clashes, and banditry, which affect all faiths.
While President Bola Tinubu’s administration welcomed U.S. counter-terrorism aid, they rejected the oversimplified “genocide” narrative. They highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to foster interfaith harmony and ongoing military operations. Amidst this, satirical accounts and anonymous profiles twisted the discourse, turning it into mockery. The disputed quote emerged as an exaggerated response to Trump’s remarks, further fueling an already charged environment.
Verification
Observers Times conducted a thorough investigation into the claim’s origins. Using keyword searches for “Akpabio Trump Nigeria killings satisfied” on X and Facebook between October 31 and November 3, 2025, over 1,500 mentions surfaced, with 80% of them originating from unverified or opposition-leaning profiles. The earliest versions of the claim appeared in satirical Facebook groups like “Ata Ikiddeh” on November 1, predating any official response. These were amplified across various platforms, including X, where they became a major topic of discussion.
To assess the context of violence, Observers Times consulted reports from Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International. HRW’s World Report 2025 documents over 2,500 deaths due to insurgent attacks and communal clashes in Nigeria through September, with Christians comprising about 40% of the victims in the Middle Belt. These figures underscore the real and persistent insecurity in the country, but they directly contradict any notion of widespread “satisfaction” among citizens regarding the violence. No government data or international alerts support claims of complacency among Nigerians. Instead, civil society groups, such as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), have filed repeated complaints with the United Nations and the U.S. State Department.
The photo accompanying the claim was reverse-searched via Google Images and TinEye. It was confirmed as a genuine photo from July 2025, taken during the Grand Finale of the 25th Anniversary of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt. There was no metadata linking the image to discussions on Trump or the violence in Nigeria.
Findings
Observers Times has determined that the statement attributed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio is a complete fabrication. In a November 3, 2025, official rebuttal, Akpabio’s Special Adviser on Media, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, denounced the post as “a total falsehood, a product of mischief, and a desperate attempt to incite misunderstanding between Senator Akpabio and President Trump.” Eyiboh clarified, “The Senate President never made such a statement publicly, privately, in writing, or in conversation,” challenging detractors to provide evidence and reaffirming Akpabio’s stature as a “statesman of global repute” committed to diplomacy.
A scan of Akpabio’s verified X account (@SPAkpabio) and the Senate’s official website revealed no posts or press releases matching the controversial quote. His most recent update on November 2 focused on legislative reforms, attracting over 20,000 views and contributing to positive public discourse without any inflammatory remarks on foreign policy or electoral issues.
This hoax is consistent with prior misinformation waves, such as the March 2025 rumors of “state-sponsored voter suppression”, which were debunked by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD). The CDD tracked a 15% rise in verified fake news during periods of heightened U.S.-Nigeria diplomatic tensions. Notably, Nigerian netizens, including verified users like @GuardianNigeria, have amplified the official denial, with one X thread garnering over 600 engagements labeling the viral post as “digital recklessness.”
Meanwhile, real advocacy for change continues. CAN’s October 2025 petition to President Tinubu highlighted over 1,800 unreported deaths and called for immediate action, demonstrating that the Nigerian public is far from satisfied with the security situation.
Verdict: False
Conclusion
Observers Times concludes that Senate President Godswill Akpabio did not say Nigerians are “fully satisfied” with the killings in Nigeria, nor did he tell Trump to “focus on the US.” This viral claim is a satirical fabrication designed to provoke, exploiting genuine security concerns for the sake of clicks and attention.
