The Federal Government has expelled the American missionary, Alex Barber, from Nigeria, accusing him of making statements that could incite violence and deepen divisions in the country’s conflict-prone Middle-Belt region.
The development was confirmed by Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Community Engagement (North-Central), during an interview, who said Barber’s activities had raised serious concerns about national unity and public safety.
“Alex Barber is no longer in Nigeria. He was removed and sent out of the country because of the work he’s doing, which is creating division”, Essiet stated. She claimed that violence erupted shortly after Barber delivered a speech in Jos, Plateau State, which allegedly contributed to the deaths of two Muslims.
Barber, born on August 17, 1997, in Lawrenceville, Georgia, initially gained recognition as a football kicker at South Forsyth High School and later played at Rutgers University, Penn State, and Liberty University. His sporting career ended after a hip injury, and he turned to faith-based humanitarian work.
In Nigeria, Barber operated through his personal initiative, Building Zion, and the U.S.-based organisation Equipping the Persecuted (ETP). His projects focused on reconstructing communities affected by violence in Benue and Plateau states. In Yelwata, devastated by attacks in June 2025, Barber helped rebuild dozens of homes and infrastructure. Residents and local leaders praised the initiative as unprecedented, with Franc Utoo noting that Barber’s work “addressed urgent needs that both federal and state governments have failed to meet.”
Despite his humanitarian efforts, Barber’s public statements on violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt drew criticism. He described the conflict as systematic rather than random criminality, and questioned government handling of the crisis and humanitarian funds. Some officials, including former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad and Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi, warned that his rhetoric risked escalating religious tensions.
While allegations surfaced about Barber being present at attack sites, no evidence links him to criminal acts. Many religious leaders defended his work, arguing that it highlighted the need for protection and accountability in vulnerable communities. Barber himself dismissed claims that his words fueled violence, emphasising the impact of his reconstruction projects on both Christian and Muslim communities.
Under Nigerian law, freedom of expression is limited where speech could incite violence. Immigration authorities also have broad powers to deport foreign nationals whose actions are deemed contrary to public interest.
Essiet warned against the dangers of divisive rhetoric, drawing parallels to the Rwandan genocide, and stressed the need to safeguard national unity.
However, Barber rejected the government’s accusations on social media, calling them false and misleading, and denying any direct conversation with Essiet.
