Fact-Check: Claim on U.S.-Nigeria Talks on Counterterrorism, Fabricated 

Claim: A social media user alleged that U.S. President Donald Trump referred to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as an “alleged drug trafficker” and refused to meet Nigeria’s delegation in Washington, D.C.

Verdict: Fabricated

Background

In August 2026, Nigeria and the United States held the second meeting of their Joint Working Group on counterterrorism, following the inaugural session in Abuja in January 2026.

The initiative was triggered after President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC).

Reports identified Nigeria’s delegation as led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, while the U.S. team was headed by Allison Hooker, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.

During the Washington meetings, a social media post claimed that President Trump refused to meet the Nigerian delegation and allegedly described President Tinubu as a “drug trafficker.”

The post cited Dr. Karl Von Batten, a Washington-based consultant, as the source. The claim quickly gained traction online, with over 11,000 views and multiple comments.

While a user, @phillipsoduaran questioned the official position of Dr. Karl Von Batten to speak for President Trump, another user, @jucombril_1 boasted that the US president’s threat would not stop President Tinubu’s re-election.

NDRFactcheck verified the authenticity of this claim.

Verification

NDRFactcheck reviewed similar false claims circulated before the current one. In May 2025, reports alleged that President Tinubu rejected Trump’s White House invitation, later debunked by Tinubu’s aide, Bayo Onanuga.

In September 2025, rumours suggested Trump would block Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, which were also proven false.

In the current meeting, official U.S. press releases confirm the August 2026 talks focused solely on counterterrorism cooperation, religious freedom concerns, and bilateral security progress. There was no mention of Nigeria’s internal politics or the 2027 elections.

Furthermore, the meetings were conducted at the cabinet and vice-presidential level, not directly with President Trump.

Further investigation revealed that Dr. Karl Von Batten is politically linked to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In March 2026, Abubakar hired Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., a lobbying firm associated with Von Batten, to bolster his reputation in the U.S.

Conclusion

In short, the claim that President Trump called President Tinubu an “alleged drug trafficker” is false and misleading. The U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group meetings focused solely on counterterrorism cooperation, not Nigeria’s domestic politics or the 2027 elections.

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