Von Batten Montague York, L.C. has raised concerns over the recent supply of U.S. military equipment to the Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu, warning that the weapons could potentially be used against Nigerian civilians and opposition groups.
In a statement posted on October 3 by the lobbyist firm through its account @batten_von, the organization said it fears Tinubu and his allies could use the military equipment against people inside Nigeria who oppose the government.
The statement also pointed to an alleged video involving a senior member of President Tinubu’s campaign. According to the group, the individual was recorded threatening to kill anyone who stood in the way of a promise to find and deliver 2.5 million votes to Tinubu.
Von Batten Montague York linked the alleged threat to broader concerns about election interference and violence, warning that U.S. funded or U.S. supplied weapons could become part of such a situation.
The organization said it fears a scenario in which Nigerian civilians and opposition members could be killed with weapons supplied or funded by the United States. It specifically referred to the possibility of international media outlets such as CNN and BBC reporting on violence in Nigerian streets.
The group said it plans to brief members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including House Republicans and House Democrats, as well as the Trump administration, about its concerns.
The statement comes amid wider international attention on Nigeria’s political tensions, the conduct of elections and allegations involving political violence.
The central concern raised by Von Batten Montague York is whether military assistance provided by the United States to Nigeria could be misused for political repression or violence. The group is calling for U.S. lawmakers and the Trump administration to examine the issue.
