Trump Signals Potential Military Action in Nigeria
Nigeria, divided between a Muslim-majority north and predominantly Christian south, has suffered decades of violence from groups like Boko Haram, responsible for massacres, kidnappings, and bombings across the country. Since around 2009, tens of thousands have died and more than two million displaced. While often framed as sectarian, analysts point to land disputes, resource competition, and ethnic tensions as key drivers of the conflict.
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump said Abuja had failed to protect Christians and warned the U.S. “may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists.”
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action,” he wrote. “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians!” He offered no evidence of Christians being specifically targeted but cautioned that “the Nigerian government better move fast” in confronting the insurgency.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth responded on X, confirming that the department “is preparing for action.”
Trump’s warning came after he declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act, citing alleged “mass slaughter” of Christians.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu rejected the allegations, defending Abuja’s efforts to uphold religious freedom as “a core tenet” of the nation. His press secretary, Bayo Onanuga, called U.S. claims of targeted attacks “a gross exaggeration,” noting that “Christians, Muslims, churches and mosques are attacked randomly” and urged Washington to provide military support against extremists rather than label Nigeria a nation of particular concern.
Later Saturday, Onanuga described Trump’s threats as an “orchestrated game” and said Abuja was “well ahead” of it. He highlighted that Tinubu had met with new army chiefs earlier in the week, instructing them to immediately “smash” Islamist insurgents with “patriotic zeal.”
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