Did US President Donald Trump Order Wike’s Arrest Over 2023 Election? Fact Surfaces

• Since US President Donald Trump took office on Monday, January 20, 2025, he has been taking several decisive actions
• One of the most prominent updates is the green light being given to law enforcers to arrest people deemed illegal immigrants
• However, social media posts have alleged that the new US leader ordered the arrest of a top Nigerian minister, Nyesom Wike

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 4 years of experience in fact-checking.

New York, USA - Facebook posts circulating in Nigeria claimed that United States President Donald Trump ordered the arrest of Nyesom Wike, the incumbent minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is a former governor of Rivers state in Nigeria's south-south region. The FCT - which he supervises - is Nigeria's capital city and seat of power.

The Facebook post read:

"Trump orders Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to arrest ‘Wike’ on sight in any European country, including France, over alleged crimes committed during the 2023 election."

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The FBI, an agency in the United States, enforces federal law and investigates a variety of criminal activity including terrorism, cybercrime, white-collar crimes, public corruption, civil rights violations, and other major crimes.

The claim can also be found in this Facebook post and another post on the same social media platform.

But is it true that President Trump ordered Wike's arrest after he supported and worked for the emergence of Bola Tinubu as president of Nigeria in 2023? Legit.ng has done further checks on the matter.

No evidence on claim about Wike

Legit.ng searched and found no media reports on Trump making such an order. It is unlikely that international media would fail to report a pronouncement of such weight linked to an influential Nigerian politician.

There is no mention of the purported order on Trump’s social media accounts -including on Truth Social where the politician is very active.

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Wike sends strong message to Nigerians amid economic challenges: “No such thing as miracle solution”

There is no evidence to support the claim that Trump has ordered the FBI to arrest Wike and the claim is thus false.

Read more related articles on Nyesom Wike:

• Wike, Ortom, other top politicians storm Ibadan, reasons emerge
• PDP crisis: Fubara makes notable promise to Wike's top rival Bala Mohammed
• PDP crisis: Governor Bala Mohammed blasts Wike

Wike urges Nigerians to stay calm

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Wike called on Nigerians to remain calm and patient in light of the current economic difficulties the country is facing.

The FCT minister emphasised that the policies being implemented by President Bola Tinubu were fundamentally aimed at the nation's betterment.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng