U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria, accusing the West African nation of failing to stop the killing of Christians.
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump sai the United States would “immediately stop all aid and assistance” to Nigeria and could intervene militarily “guns-a-blazing” to “wipe out the Islamic terrorists” he blamed for the violence. He offered no evidence to support the claims.
Nigeria’s government has not responded directly to Trump’s remarks. Earlier the same day, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rejected accusations of religious persecution, insisting the country protects freedom of belief for all citizens.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded on X, saying the Department of War was “preparing for action,” echoing Trump’s warning. The White House declined to comment.
The move comes a day after Trump’s administration re-designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged violations of religious freedom, a status that could pave the way for sanctions.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced years of insecurity, including attacks by the Islamist group Boko Haram.
Analysts have noted that while Christians have been targeted, the majority of victims in Nigeria’s insurgency have been Muslims.
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