United States Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has said the Department of War is preparing for action in Nigeria following reports of attacks on Christians in the country.
Hegseth stated this on Saturday in a post on X, in response to President Donald Trump’s earlier comments threatening military intervention over alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
“Yes sir. The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria — and anywhere — must end immediately. 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,” he wrote.
Trump had earlier threatened to carry out attacks in Nigeria in response to purported anti-Christian violence, saying he instructed the recently renamed Department of War to “prepare for possible action”.
In a social media post on Saturday, Trump said the United States would immediately cut off all assistance to the African country “if the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians”.