Binance Founder Accuses Nigeria of ‘Kidnapping’ Ex-Executive Tigran Gambaryan Amid U.S. Tensions

Binance Founder Accuses Nigeria of ‘Kidnapping’ Ex-Executive Tigran Gambaryan Amid U.S. Tensions

In a stunning escalation of tensions between Nigeria and the United States, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has accused Nigerian authorities of “kidnapping” former Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, who was detained for eight months in 2024.

Zhao made the claim in a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced preparations for possible military intervention in Nigeria, citing alleged religious persecution against Christians.

“Nigeria also basically kidnapped Tigran Gambaryan, an ex-Binance employee and an ex-U.S. federal agent, for 8 months without cause a year ago,” Zhao wrote, referencing mounting criticism from Western governments over Nigeria’s handling of human rights and religious freedom issues.

Background: Arrest and Detention of Tigran Gambaryan

Tigran Gambaryan, who formerly served as Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, was arrested in Lagos on February 28, 2024, alongside Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s Regional Manager for Africa.

Their arrest formed part of Nigeria’s sweeping crackdown on cryptocurrency exchanges, which the government accused of money laundering, tax evasion, and foreign exchange manipulation.

While Anjarwalla managed to escape custody, Gambaryan remained detained until October 2024, when the Federal High Court in Abuja cleared him of all charges.

In a follow-up post, Gambaryan supported Zhao’s claims, alleging that Nigerian officials attempted to extort the U.S. government during his detention.

“Then they bragged about extorting the Biden administration out of $50 million to release me,” he wrote on X.

Trump Threatens Military Action Over Religious Persecution

The Binance founder’s comments came just as President Donald Trump issued a fiery social media statement condemning what he described as the “mass slaughter of Christians in Nigeria.”

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians,” Trump warned, “the U.S.A. may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”

He further directed the U.S. Department of War to prepare for possible intervention, adding, “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet.”

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth publicly endorsed Trump’s stance, writing “Yes, sir” in response and declaring that the department was “preparing for action.”

Nigeria Responds: Government Denies Allegations

The Nigerian government has strongly denied all allegations of religious persecution and unlawful detention.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dismissed the accusations, saying,

“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality.”

He emphasized Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to religious freedom, and highlighted cooperation with international partners to combat terrorism and extremism.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga also criticized the U.S. narrative, describing it as “a gross exaggeration of Nigeria’s situation.” He noted that both Christians and Muslims are frequent victims of extremist attacks and urged Washington to support counterterrorism efforts instead of issuing military threats.

Nigeria’s Diplomatic Position

Before Tinubu’s remarks, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that the United States remains one of Nigeria’s closest allies, despite Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom violations.

In a statement signed by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the ministry’s spokesperson, the government said it had taken note of U.S. concerns and reiterated its commitment to tackling violent extremism nationwide.

Summary

The clash between Binance’s founder, U.S. officials, and Nigeria’s government underscores growing international scrutiny over human rights, crypto regulation, and religious freedom in Africa’s largest economy.

As both Washington and Abuja navigate rising diplomatic tensions, the Binance Nigeria controversy continues to raise serious questions about due process, sovereignty, and international accountability.

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