A fresh controversy has erupted following claims by former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, that American missionary Alex Barbir has allegedly been ordered by Nigerian authorities to leave the country after publicly criticising the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu over killings in Christian communities.
Ahmad, who served as Personal Assistant on New Media to former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2016 to 2019 and later as Special Assistant on Digital Communications from 2019 to 2023, made the claim in a statement on Wednesday, citing what he described as a reliable source.
According to Ahmad, the American missionary allegedly engaged in activities capable of igniting religious tensions across parts of Nigeria, particularly in the North Central region where violent attacks have intensified in recent months.
“A reliable source has informed me that the hate monger, Mr. Alex Barbir, has been ordered by the authorities to leave this country,” Ahmad stated, alleging that Barbir’s engagements in several communities were capable of destabilising fragile inter-religious relationships.
He further warned that Nigeria’s unity must not be compromised, insisting that individuals promoting division must be held accountable regardless of nationality.
However, as of the time of filing this report, there has been no official confirmation from government authorities regarding any directive ordering Barbir to leave Nigeria. The American missionary has also not publicly confirmed receiving any such order.
The development comes amid Barbir’s recent criticism of the Tinubu administration following the Palm Sunday killings in Jos, particularly in Anguwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area, where at least 26 persons were reportedly killed in a deadly attack.
Videos obtained from the aftermath of the violence showed lifeless bodies laid out as grieving residents struggled to comprehend the scale of the killings, further intensifying national outrage over insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
Barbir had earlier accused armed Fulani groups of orchestrating attacks across multiple states, including Benue State, Plateau State, Taraba State, and Kaduna State, while dismissing claims that Boko Haram insurgents were primarily responsible for the violence.
Speaking during an interview with CBN News, the American missionary alleged that the Nigerian government was failing to address what he described as targeted attacks against Christian communities.
“The Fulani terrorists are massacring Christians across Nigeria, they are taking over land, the Nigerian government are doing nothing about it,” Barbir claimed, further alleging that authorities were attempting to downplay the scale of the violence.
He also accused government officials of shielding perpetrators and lobbying internationally to deny what he described as a growing humanitarian crisis.
“Why are we hiding the truth? Who is going to say the truth and fight for the lives of Nigerians? If it’s just me, I will do it,” he stated, calling on Christians to speak out against the violence.
Barbir’s comments have further deepened the already sensitive debate surrounding insecurity and religious tensions in Nigeria, particularly in the Middle Belt region where communities have repeatedly suffered attacks during festive periods.
The controversy also follows earlier claims by Barbir that authorities in Benue State attempted to frustrate his plans to rebuild Yelwata village after it was attacked by bandits. According to him, he proposed building a market for the community but was allegedly presented with a ₦300 million blueprint by state officials, which he claimed was inflated.
Barbir insisted the project could be completed for ₦60 million, alleging that some individuals were exploiting the suffering of displaced residents for personal gain.
As debates intensify, the alleged move to order the American missionary out of Nigeria, if confirmed, is likely to trigger diplomatic, religious, and political reactions, especially as insecurity continues to dominate national discourse and international attention shifts toward Nigeria’s worsening humanitarian concerns.
For now, the silence from authorities has only deepened speculation, leaving Nigerians questioning whether criticism of insecurity is now becoming a diplomatic flashpoint in an already fragile security climate.