Onitsha Screwdriver Trader’s Reports Sparked Trump’s Airstrikes on Nigeria

In a surprising twist that highlights the global reach of local activism, Emeka Umeagbalasi, a screwdriver trader based in Onitsha, Anambra State, has emerged as a key figure whose reports influenced U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to launch airstrikes in Nigeria. According to a recent investigation by The New York Times, Umeagbalasi’s unverified data on alleged Christian persecution played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. policy, leading to military action against purported ISIS targets in Sokoto State.

Umeagbalasi, who founded and runs the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) from his home alongside his wife, has been cited by prominent Republican lawmakers as an expert on religious violence in Nigeria. His organization, established in 2008, focuses on human rights and rule of law issues, with Umeagbalasi holding degrees in security studies, peace, and conflict resolution from the National Open University of Nigeria. Describing himself as a “powerful” investigator and self-acclaimed criminologist, he claims to have documented over 125,000 Christian deaths since 2009, drawing from Google searches, Nigerian media, secondary sources, and groups like Open Doors.

However, the NYT report questions the reliability of his methodology, noting that Umeagbalasi rarely verifies data independently, seldom visits attack sites, and often assumes victims’ religions based on location. “If a mass abduction or killing happens in an area where he thinks many Christians live, he assumes the victims are Christians,” the report states. In an interview, he defended his approach as “one of the oldest natural methods in the world,” relying on “location and space of an incident.” He also claimed that 20,000 of Nigeria’s 100,000 churches have been destroyed in the past 16 years, admitting the figure came from a Google search

Umeagbalasi’s work gained traction in U.S. political circles, with lawmakers like Senator Ted Cruz (Texas), Representative Riley Moore (Virginia), and Representative Chris Smith (New Jersey) referencing his reports in probes into alleged Christian genocide. This narrative fueled Trump’s actions: In October 2025, he redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom violations, citing an “existential threat” to Christianity and blaming radical Islamists for mass slaughters. A month later, Trump threatened a full-scale invasion if Nigeria failed to act.

The culmination came on December 25, 2025, when U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on two ISIS-linked camps in Sokoto’s Bauni forest, coordinated with Nigerian authorities. Trump described the strikes as a “Christmas present” to terrorists, claiming they targeted groups killing innocent Christians. Nigerian officials confirmed the operation, stating it neutralized foreign ISIS elements using 16 precision munitions from MQ-9 Reaper drones. However, questions linger about the targets, with some reports suggesting the strikes hit areas without known ISIS activity, possibly linked to local groups like Lakurawa instead.

In the aftermath, violence persisted: Just days after the strikes, gunmen killed dozens in Niger State, including abductions from a Catholic school. Critics argue that Umeagbalasi’s data promotes a misleading view of targeted Christian genocide, overlooking broader insecurity affecting all Nigerians, including Muslims. Trump has warned of further strikes if attacks on Christians continue.

Umeagbalasi remains defiant, asserting a “strategy to annihilate all Christians and Islamize Nigeria.” His story underscores how grassroots advocacy, even from a modest market stall in Onitsha, can echo in international corridors of power, raising concerns about the verification of intelligence in global decision-making.

NaijaChoice News will continue to monitor developments in this ongoing saga.