Trump threatens to launch military attacks in Nigeria over Christian killings
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U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said he has ordered the Pentagon to begin preparing for possible military action in Nigeria, escalating his claims that the Nigerian government is not doing enough to stop the persecution of Christians.
Trump also threatened to cut off all American aid to the country.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and 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,” Trump wrote on social media. “I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!”
His warning followed a response earlier the same day from Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who rejected Trump’s announcement that he was designating Nigeria “a country of particular concern” for allegedly failing to curb attacks on Christians.
In a statement, Tinubu said the characterisation of Nigeria as a religiously intolerant country was inaccurate.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” he said. “Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.”
Trump had said on Friday that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria” and blamed “radical Islamists” for a “mass slaughter.” His comments followed recent calls by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz for Congress to label Nigeria a violator of religious freedom, citing claims of “Christian mass murder.”
Nigeria’s population of about 220 million is split almost evenly between Christians and Muslims. The country faces insecurity on multiple fronts: Boko Haram and Islamic State–affiliated extremists, farmer–herder clashes, communal violence, ethnic tensions, and secessionist agitations.
While Christians are among those targeted, some analysts claim that the majority of victims of armed groups are Muslims in the country’s Muslim-majority northern region, where most attacks occur.
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Also, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that the government protects citizens of all religions.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion,” spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said. “Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength.”
The U.S. first designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” in 2020 over what the State Department called “systematic violations of religious freedom.” The designation— which did not exclusively cite attacks on Christians—was removed in 2023, a move widely viewed as part of efforts to improve diplomatic relations ahead of then–Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit.
