- Trump threatens military action over Nigeria’s religious violence
- Tinubu rejects claims of anti-Christian genocide
US President Donald Trump has ordered the military to prepare for possible action in Nigeria, accusing the government of failing to protect Christians amid escalating attacks blamed on Islamist militants.
Trump, in a fiery social media post on Saturday, said he had instructed the Department of War to be “ready for action” unless Nigeria’s government intervened, threatening to cut aid and send troops “guns-a-blazing.”
He warned, “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!”
Secretary of State for War Pete Hegseth responded, “Yes sir. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
Tinubu pushes back
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu dismissed Trump’s comments, insisting his country remained religiously tolerant and that security challenges were affecting “people across faiths and regions.”
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu said in a BBC report, adding that his administration was committed to working with the United States and international partners “to protect communities of all faiths.”
An adviser to Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, said both leaders shared a commitment to combating “all forms of terrorism against humanity.” He added that disagreements over whether Christians were being exclusively targeted “or in fact all faiths and no faiths” would be addressed when the two presidents meet in the coming days.
Trump earlier declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” because of what he called an “existential threat” to Christians, claiming “thousands” had been killed – though he offered no evidence. The designation, used by the US State Department, allows sanctions on nations “engaged in severe violations of religious freedom.”
Experts question genocide claims
Monitoring groups say there is little evidence of a deliberate campaign against Christians. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is roughly evenly divided between Muslims and Christians.
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (Acled), which tracks political violence globally, reports that most victims of jihadist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the northeast are Muslims.
In the country’s central regions, deadly clashes between mostly Muslim herders and largely Christian farmers have persisted for years over access to land and water. Rights groups say atrocities have occurred on both sides, with no proof that Christians are being disproportionately targeted.
Trump, who has long styled himself as a peace-minded leader, is facing pressure from conservative voices in the US to take a tougher stance on Nigeria’s violence.
