U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to prepare plans for possible military intervention in Nigeria, following his criticism of the West African nation’s handling of alleged Christian persecution.
He also threatened to cut all U.S. aid, calling Nigeria a “disgraced 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 posted 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!”
Trump’s warning followed Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s public rejection of claims that his government has failed to protect religious minorities. Tinubu, in a response to Trump’s prior announcement labeling Nigeria “a country of particular concern,” insisted the allegations do not align with the country’s identity.
READ ALSO: Trump labels Nigeria a ‘country of concern’ amid Christian persecution claims
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” Tinubu said. “Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.”
Trump intensified his stance on Friday by stating that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” blaming “radical Islamists” for the violence. His comments reflected earlier calls from U.S. Senator Ted Cruz to formally designate Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom due to alleged “Christian mass murder.”
Nigeria, a nation of 220 million people split nearly evenly between Christians and Muslims, has long grappled with insecurity fueled by diverse factors: extremist groups like Boko Haram, land disputes, ethnic rivalries, and secessionist movements. While Christian communities have suffered targeted attacks, analysts note that the majority of victims in the country’s Muslim-majority north are Muslims.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, restated the country’s position on religious plurality in a statement.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion,” he said. “Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength.”
READ ALSO: Tinubu launches major shake-up of Nigeria’s security forces
Nigeria was first placed on the U.S. State Department’s “country of particular concern” list in 2020 over “systematic violations of religious freedom,” but the designation was lifted in 2023, a shift many analysts believe was aimed at mending diplomatic ties.
