By Ademola Adekusibe.
November 7, 2025.
The American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), a U.S.-based organization made up of Nigerians who have served in the American armed forces, has written to the U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, requesting the establishment of a U.S. military base in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
In the letter dated November 6, AVID’s President, Dr. Sylvester Unyia, and Secretary, Dr. Godson Obiagwu, thanked Hegseth for what they described as his “unwavering support in tackling the Christian genocide in Nigeria,” urging concrete military action to curb the killings.
The group, made up of American citizens of Igbo descent, said their members possess deep cultural and geographical knowledge of the region, which they believe makes them well-positioned to assist any U.S. intervention.
“We know the topography of the affected areas, their mindset, culture, and comprehend fully the magnitude of this problem,” the letter stated. “A permanent solution is the only way to end this Christian genocide. Establishing a U.S. military base in Nigeria will be the genesis of resolving this issue, as it will serve as a deterrent to the perpetrators.”
AVID accused the Nigerian government of spreading “lies and propaganda” about the ongoing violence in the Southeast, adding that the situation had worsened under what it called “weak leadership and political complacency.”
The veterans concluded the letter by reaffirming loyalty to the United States and to President Donald Trump, declaring: “May God bless you, Sir. Long live Donald J. Trump, and long live the United States of America.”
Their call has stirred fresh debate online, with some critics describing the appeal as “a national embarrassment,” while others see it as a reflection of growing frustration over insecurity and government inaction in Nigeria’s southeast. WE CAN’T LEAD OURSELVES? IGBO-AMERICAN VETERANS TURN TO TRUMP FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION
The American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), a U.S.-based organization made up of Nigerians who have served in the American armed forces, has written to the U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, requesting the establishment of a U.S. military base in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
In the letter dated November 6, AVID’s President, Dr. Sylvester Unyia, and Secretary, Dr. Godson Obiagwu, thanked Hegseth for what they described as his “unwavering support in tackling the Christian genocide in Nigeria,” urging concrete military action to curb the killings.
The group, made up of American citizens of Igbo descent, said their members possess deep cultural and geographical knowledge of the region, which they believe makes them well-positioned to assist any U.S. intervention.
“We know the topography of the affected areas, their mindset, culture, and comprehend fully the magnitude of this problem,” the letter stated. “A permanent solution is the only way to end this Christian genocide. Establishing a U.S. military base in Nigeria will be the genesis of resolving this issue, as it will serve as a deterrent to the perpetrators.”
AVID accused the Nigerian government of spreading “lies and propaganda” about the ongoing violence in the Southeast, adding that the situation had worsened under what it called “weak leadership and political complacency.”
The veterans concluded the letter by reaffirming loyalty to the United States and to President Donald Trump, declaring: “May God bless you, Sir. Long live Donald J. Trump, and long live the United States of America.”
Their call has stirred fresh debate online, with some critics describing the appeal as “a national embarrassment,” while others see it as a reflection of growing frustration over insecurity and government inaction in Nigeria’s southeast.
