Nigeria Expels Controversial American Missionary Alex Barber

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Alex Barber

The Federal Government has expelled an American missionary, Alex Barber, over allegations that his public statements were capable of inciting violence and deepening divisions in Nigeria’s conflict-affected Middle Belt.

The development was confirmed by Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central), during an interview with TVC News on Monday.

Essiet said Barber had been removed from the country due to concerns about national unity and public safety.

“We’ve realised what Alex Barber has done… he is no longer in Nigeria,” she said. “He has been removed and sent out of the country because of the work he’s doing, which is creating division.”

According to her, Barber’s remarks during a speech in Jos, Plateau State, allegedly had immediate consequences, claiming that violence broke out shortly after.

“Immediately after he made his speech in Jos… two Muslims were killed,” she said, attributing the incident to the impact of what she described as provocative statements.

Barber, who was born in Georgia, United States, had been involved in humanitarian work in Nigeria through initiatives such as Building Zion and Equipping the Persecuted.

His activities included reconstruction projects in communities affected by violence in Benue and Plateau states. In Yelwata, Benue State, he reportedly led efforts to rebuild dozens of homes destroyed during attacks.

The traditional ruler of Yelwata, Julius Joor, had earlier commended the intervention, describing it as unprecedented, while some residents and advocates praised the initiative for addressing urgent humanitarian needs.

However, Barber’s public comments on the security situation in the Middle Belt drew criticism. In interviews and social media posts, he described the violence as systematic and questioned official narratives surrounding the crisis.

His remarks sparked reactions from several Nigerian figures, including former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad and Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi, who warned that such statements could inflame tensions and deepen religious divisions.

A petition was also reportedly submitted to the State Security Services (SSS) in Plateau State by a citizen, calling for an investigation into Barber’s activities, though no public evidence has linked him to criminal conduct.

Supporters of the missionary, including religious leaders such as Ezekiel Dachomo, defended his humanitarian work, arguing that it brought attention to communities affected by violence and underscored the need for accountability.

Responding to the allegations, Barber denied that his statements contributed to violence, accusing Essiet of misrepresentation.

“Let it be known that if Abiodun Essiet made this statement, they are directly lying to the Nigerian and international community,” he wrote on Facebook.

Legal experts note that while freedom of expression is protected, Nigerian laws such as the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Cybercrime Act impose limits where speech is deemed capable of inciting violence or public disorder.

Essiet said the government’s decision was aimed at preventing narratives that could fuel ethnic or religious tensions, drawing parallels with the Rwandan Genocide.

“We must not allow people who do not understand the history of our crises to divide us,” she said.