Mike Arnold, Republican Mayor of Blanco, Texas, has questioned Nigeria’s stance on foreign involvement in its fight against terrorism, noting that while the country reportedly rejects external commentary on security, it seeks financial support from the United States.

Arnold made the remarks on Monday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time.

“I don’t understand why a nation that is mineral rich as Nigeria has to go and beg for help to save her own people,” Arnold said.

“Nigeria has plenty of resources to help her people get at least something where they can help get stability. Displaced people are denied stability, their homes are bulldozed with no warning. It is horrific. You don’t want the America to come here speak on terrorism but you want their money, that does not make sense to me whatsoever.”

The visit forms part of a fact-finding mission organised by political commentator, Reno Omokri, who seeks to counter claims by United States Senator Ted Cruz that Nigeria is supporting terrorism and facilitating a “Christian genocide.”

Omokri described the allegations as “ludicrous and based on misinformation” and invited Arnold and filmmaker Jeff Gibbs to meet with leaders from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

“Before coming, they briefed Senator Cruz and Congressman Roy. They’ve now seen things for themselves and spoken with both Christian and Muslim leaders,” Omokri said.

He stressed that while attacks on Christians have occurred, they do not constitute genocide, noting that Muslims have also suffered from terrorist violence.

Omokri attributed Nigeria’s insecurity to the fallout from the 2011 NATO intervention in Libya.

“This crisis began when the Obama administration intervened in Libya. After Gaddafi fell, his mercenaries spread across the Sahel with weapons and training. They destabilised the region from Burkina Faso to Mali and Niger. Now they are trying to do the same in Nigeria,” he explained.

He also criticised the United States for what he described as moral complicity, adding, “There is a moral responsibility on the United States because this problem was brought to Nigeria’s doorstep by the Obama administration.” Omokri said the ongoing mission aims to prevent Nigeria from being misclassified as a “country of particular concern,” a designation he warned could exacerbate insecurity and harm ordinary citizens, both Christian and Muslim.