U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to send troops to Nigeria if the alleged persecution and killing of Christians continue.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said he had instructed the Department of War to prepare for “possible action” if the violence persists. He also warned that the U.S. could cut off all aid to Nigeria if President Bola Tinubu’s administration fails to stop the reported attacks.
“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 said.
“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.”
The remarks came a day after Trump designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”, citing what he described as an “existential threat” to Nigerian Christians.
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern.’ But that is the least of it. When Christians; or any such group, are slaughtered as is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide), something must be done!” he wrote on Friday.
Reacting, President Bola Tinubu dismissed Trump’s claims, saying they misrepresented Nigeria’s religious reality.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty. The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He stressed that his government remains committed to protecting all citizens, regardless of faith, adding that religious freedom and tolerance are “fundamental pillars” of the Nigerian identity.
“Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it,” he added.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Nigeria is already engaging the U.S. government on the issue.
“We will continue to engage the United States Government through our missions in Washington DC, Atlanta, and New York on this matter. Discussions will also continue with the American Embassy in Abuja,” he stated.
