The United States President Donald Trump has threatened possible military action over what he described as the “killing of Christians” in Nigeria.
In a statement shared on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump ordered the US Department of Defense to prepare for what he called a “possible intervention” if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration fails to stop the alleged violence.
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump said.
He added, “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 former president’s post has gone viral, drawing mixed reactions globally and further straining diplomatic ties between both countries.
Reacting to Trump’s comments, US Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth confirmed that preparations were underway for potential action, saying, “Either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
The Nigerian government is yet to officially respond to Trump’s latest threat.
Trump had earlier designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged Christian persecution, a decision swiftly rejected by President Tinubu and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Tinubu, in his response, said Nigeria “stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” while the foreign affairs ministry described the US claim as “not a true reflection of the situation on the ground.”
Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume urged the Federal Government to engage experienced diplomats to prevent further escalation of tensions.
In his words, “Nigeria must deploy diplomatic tact and dialogue to avoid confrontation with the United States.”
Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi, however, dismissed Trump’s claims as politically driven, saying, “All the bluff is about the 2027 elections.”
Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad wrote that those who pushed for Nigeria’s designation had “finally landed the country in a mess.”
Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga countered Trump’s claim, insisting that insecurity in Nigeria was not religiously motivated.
“Dear Secretary Rubio, there is no ongoing slaughter of Christians in Nigeria. What we do have are sporadic attacks by bandits and terrorists that affect Christians and Muslims alike. Churches and mosques are attacked randomly,” he said.
Onanuga added that what Nigeria needs from the United States is “military support to fight violent extremists, not a false designation.”
Former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr Yemi Farounbi, also warned that Trump’s stance could harm Nigeria’s global reputation and diplomatic relations.
“This move will make America and its allies see Nigeria as a country where freedom of worship is not adequately protected. That is bad for our image,” Farounbi said.
He advised the government to present verifiable data on its efforts to prosecute those behind sectarian violence, noting that “America’s concern is not just about the killings but how the Nigerian government responds.”
Farounbi cautioned that the fallout could also threaten Nigeria’s military cooperation with the US and its allies, which the country relies on for intelligence sharing, training, and access to weapon systems.
“Nigeria stands to lose a lot—visa approvals, grants, and key diplomatic relationships. We are fighting insecurity in the West African region and need global collaboration. This declaration could put that at risk,” he warned.
