The United States President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Nigeria, threatening possible military action over what he described as the continuous “killing of Christians” in the country.
The U.S. leader said Christians in Nigeria are under attack and facing an “existential threat.”
He insisted that the situation deserves urgent global attention and pressure.
Trump criticised Washington for what he called silence over the matter. He also urged American lawmakers to probe what he labelled a “mass slaughter.”
He stated that Nigeria has now been listed as a “country of particular concern” – a designation meant for countries accused of serious violations of religious freedom.
In a heated message posted on Saturday, Trump warned that he could send U.S forces into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” if the Nigerian government fails to stop the alleged killings. He claimed that the Pentagon has been asked to begin preparing a military strategy.
Trump wrote: “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.”
He continued: “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 ended his warning with: “WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”
The Nigerian government has pushed back strongly. President Bola Tinubu rejected claims of religious persecution and defended Nigeria’s record on freedom of worship.
Tinubu said: “Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”
Nigeria is battling widespread insecurity including banditry, farmer-herder clashes, and terrorism with many communities, both Christian and Muslim, suffering heavy casualties.
However, the Nigerian government has said violence in the country is complex and not limited to one religion.