United States President Donald Trump has publicly threatened to order military strikes in Nigeria in response to what he described as “horrible atrocities” against Christians.
At the same time, he announced an immediate cessation of U.S. aid to Nigeria.
On Saturday evening, Trump posted on the social media site Truth Social that he had instructed the newly renamed Department of War to “prepare for possible action” in Nigeria.
“If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!” he wrote.
He further declared that “the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria” if the Nigerian government “continues to allow the killing of Christians.”
Trump’s move came after he announced that Nigeria would be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” under U.S. law for systematic religious‑freedom violations.
In a subsequent post, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, responded to Trump’s directive with a terse “Yes sir,” adding on social media: “Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
The Nigerian government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, rejected the characterisation of Nigeria as failing to protect religious minorities.
In a statement, President Tinubu said the depiction of Nigeria as “religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality” and stressed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding freedom of religion and belief for all Nigerians.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that “the Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion. Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength.”
