Trump threatens Nigeria with possible military action and increases reports of Christian persecution
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for possible military action in Nigeria, as he stepped up his criticism that the government is failing to rein in the persecution of Christians in the West African country.
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the slaughter of Christians, the United States will immediately suspend all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well enter that now-disgraced country, ‘with guns,’ to completely eliminate the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump posted on social media. “I hereby instruct our War Department to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be swift, cruel and sweet, just as terrorist thugs attack our BELOVED Christians.”
The warning of possible military action came after Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier on Saturday rejected Trump’s announcement a day earlier that he was designating the West African country as “a country of particular concern” for allegedly failing to curb the persecution of Christians.
In a statement on social media on Saturday, Tinubu said the characterization of Nigeria as a religiously intolerant country does not reflect the national reality.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a fundamental principle of our collective identity and always will be,” Tinubu said. “Nigeria opposes and does not encourage religious persecution. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all religions.”
Trump said Friday that “Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria” and that “radical Islamists are responsible for this mass killing.”
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Trump’s comment came weeks after US Senator Ted Cruz urged Congress to designate Africa’s most populous country as a violator of religious freedom with accusations of “mass murder of Christians.”
Nigeria’s population of 220 million is divided almost evenly between Christians and Muslims. The country has long faced insecurity from several fronts, including the extremist group Boko Haram, which seeks to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also attacked Muslims it considers not Muslim enough.
The attacks in Nigeria have various reasons. There are religious reasons and aimed at both Christians and Muslims, clashes between farmers and shepherds due to diminished resources, communal rivalries, secessionist groups and ethnic clashes.
While Christians are among the targets, analysts say most of the armed groups’ victims are Muslims in Muslim-majority northern Nigeria, where most attacks occur.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to protecting citizens of all religions.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to stand up for all citizens, regardless of race, creed or religion,” Ebienfa said in a statement on Saturday. “Like the United States, Nigeria has no choice but to celebrate diversity, which is our greatest strength.”
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The United States placed Nigeria on the list of countries of particular concern for the first time in 2020 for what the State Department called “systematic violations of religious freedom.” The designation, which did not flag attacks against Christians, was lifted in 2023 in what observers saw as a way to improve ties between the countries ahead of a visit by then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
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Madhani reported from West Palm Beach, Florida.