Binance founder accuses Nigeria of kidnapping government amid Trump’s navy threat
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has accused Nigerian authorities of “kidnapping” former Binance government and U.S. federal agent Tigran Gambaryan for eight months in a dramatic escalation of worldwide tensions.
Zhao’s assertion, in a now deleted publish on X, got here simply moments after U.S. President Donald Trump introduced preparations for potential navy intervention in Nigeria over alleged spiritual persecution.
“Nigeria additionally principally kidnapped Tigran Gambaryan, an ex-Binance worker and an ex-US federal agent, for 8 months with out trigger a 12 months in the past,” Zhao wrote, referencing rising Western criticism of Nigeria’s remedy of Christians.
Gambaryan, who served as Binance’s Head of {Financial} Crime Compliance, was arrested in Lagos on February 28, 2024, alongside Nadeem Anjarwalla, the corporate’s regional supervisor for Africa.
Their detention was a part of Nigeria’s broader crackdown on cryptocurrency platforms, which authorities accused of cash laundering, tax evasion, and international change violations. Whereas Anjarwalla escaped custody, Gambaryan remained detained till October 2024, when the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja discharged him from all prices.
In a follow-up publish, Gambaryan echoed Zhao’s claims and alleged that Nigerian officers boasted about extorting the U.S. authorities for his launch. “Thanks @cz_binance (Zhao). Then they bragged about extorting the Biden administration out of $50 million to launch me,” he wrote.
The controversy erupted as President Trump issued a fiery assertion on social media, condemning what he described because the “mass slaughter” of Christians in Nigeria.
“If the Nigerian Authorities continues to permit the killing of Christians,” Trump warned, “the united statesA. could very nicely go into that now disgraced nation, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to utterly wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who’re committing these horrible atrocities.”
He added, “I’m hereby instructing our Division of Conflict to organize for doable motion. If we assault, it is going to be quick, vicious, and candy”.
U.S. Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth backed Trump’s stance, posting “Sure, sir,” alongside a screenshot of the president’s assertion. He added, “The killing of harmless Christians in Nigeria, and anyplace, should finish instantly. The Division of Conflict is making ready for motion”.
The Nigerian authorities has strongly denied allegations of non secular persecution. President Bola Tinubu responded, stating, “The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously illiberal doesn’t replicate our nationwide actuality.”
He emphasised Nigeria’s dedication to safeguarding spiritual freedom and ongoing collaboration with worldwide companions.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga criticized the U.S. narrative, calling it “a gross exaggeration of the Nigerian scenario.” He famous that each Christians and Muslims face assaults from extremist {groups} and urged the U.S. to help Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts moderately than challenge threats.
Previous to Tinubu’s assertion, the Federal Authorities had stated that the US stays considered one of Nigeria’s closest allies regardless of President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Nation of Explicit Concern” over alleged killings of Christians.