US Missionary Alex Barbir Leaves Nigeria After Bashir Ahmad Called For His Arrest

American missionary Alex Barbir has departed Nigeria after former presidential media aide Bashir Ahmad publicly called for his arrest.

On March 30, Ahmad urged Nigerian security agencies to investigate and arrest Barbir over a video in which the missionary criticised President Bola Tinubu over the recent killings in Plateau State.

Ahmad alleged that Barbir had been moving around the country freely while making comments he described as divisive and capable of creating tension among Nigerians.

He asked the relevant authorities to move quickly by investigating the missionary’s activities and taking legal action where necessary to prevent any threat to peace and public order.

Ahmad also questioned why Nigerians are sometimes punished for making comments about other countries, yet, according to him, a foreigner could make similar statements inside Nigeria without facing consequences.

Taking to his X page on Wednesday evening, Bahir Ahmad claimed that the US missionary had been directed to leave Nigeria.

He accused Alex Barbir of attempting to stir religious tension in communities across the North-Central region.

“A reliable source has informed me that the hate monger, Mr. Alex Barbir, has been ordered by the authorities to leave this country.

“Since arriving in Nigeria, he has been attempting to ignite religious tensions, particularly in communities he visited across the North Central region.

“Our nation’s peace and unity must never be compromised and anyone found promoting division should be held accountable,” he wrote.

Barbir, however, denied the claim, stressing that the DSS was actually providing him security from what he described as “evil men.”

He wrote, “Which reliable source? Freely confirm to my face. Stop lying from your butt. DSS in fact are the ones securing me from the likes of evil men as you!”

On Thursday, Barbir confirmed that he had left Nigeria, taking a swipe at Ahmad and Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi.

He sarcastically said that now that he had left, he expected Nigeria to become peaceful, with no more killings, kidnappings, burnings, IED attacks, or ambushes.

The US missionary wrote, “Bashir and Gumi! Now that I’ve left I’m expecting to see a peaceful Nigeria! No killing, kidnapping, burning, IED, ambushes… Since ISWAP, Fulani, and Boko are your brothers, tell them to take a masjid break.’

Responding again, Ahmad insisted the missionary did not leave on his own terms, claiming he was ordered by the authorities to leave immediately.

He said Barbir had only denied it earlier to protect his ego and accused him of coming to Nigeria with the intention of causing division and unrest, adding that the mission had failed.

“You didn’t just leave willingly, you left because you were ordered by the authorities to leave immediately, something you denied last night to massage your ego.

‘Alex, we know you came to Nigeria with a clear mission to ignite anarchy by setting us against each other, but like many before you, that mission has failed. Nigeria is bigger than you and even those who sent you here. Good riddance,” he wrote.

To support his own position, Alex Barbir shared proof that his visit to Nigeria was already scheduled to end on April 1.

He argued that if he had truly been forced out, there would have been no reason for him to already have a round-trip flight booked from March 10 to April 1.

Barbir said, “To the liar Bashir, if I was ordered to leave why did I have a round trip flight from March 10 – April 1?

KanyiDaily had reported how gunmen attacked and killed over 10 people in the Anguwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area on Sunday, March 29.