WASHINGTON / ABUJA – US President President Donald Trump escalated diplomatic tensions with Nigeria on Saturday, publicly threatening “fast” military action against the West African nation unless its government immediately cracks down on the killing of Christians.
In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump revealed he has instructed the Defense Department to prepare for a possible intervention. He simultaneously announced the U.S. government would immediately cease all aid and assistance to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and top oil producer.
“Guns-A-Blazing” Warning
Mr. Trump warned that any U.S. military operation would go in “‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.” He offered no immediate specific evidence or details to support his claims regarding the treatment of Christians in Nigeria, asserting instead that Nigeria is a “disgraced country” that must “move quickly.”
“If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!” he wrote.
The threat was quickly backed by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who posted on X (formerly Twitter): “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.”
The White House and the U.S. Department of Defense offered no immediate comment on the potential timing or scope of any military action, with the Defense Department referring inquiries back to the White House.
Nigerian Government Pushes Back
Mr. Trump’s threats came just one day after his administration officially returned Nigeria to the U.S. State Department’s “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) list, citing religious freedom violations. Other nations on the list include China, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had preemptively pushed back on the designation just hours before Mr. Trump’s fiery post.
“The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” President Tinubu stated. He defended the government’s “consistent and sincere efforts to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” citing constitutional protections. The Nigerian Foreign Ministry, in a separate statement, emphasized the country’s commitment to fighting violent extremism and vowed to “continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion,” expressing hope that Washington would remain a close ally.
Context and Concerns
Nigeria, home to over 200 ethnic groups and diverse religious communities, has a long history of coexistence, but has also suffered from significant outbreaks of sectarian and ethnic violence, often exacerbated by resource conflicts. The Islamist armed group Boko Haram has waged a 15-year insurgency in the northeast, killing tens of thousands, though human rights experts note that most victims of the group have been Muslims.
Mr. Trump, who designated Nigeria a country of concern during his first term before his Democratic successor removed it in 2021, claimed Friday that “thousands of Christians” were being killed by radical Islamists, again offering no specifics. The re-designation on Friday opens the door to a range of U.S. policy responses, including sanctions. The move was supported by some U.S. lawmakers, such as House Appropriations Committee Republican Chairman Representative Tom Cole, who cited “the alarming and ongoing persecution of Christians across the country.”
The threat of military action also comes against the backdrop of a diminished U.S. military footprint in West Africa, following the withdrawal of approximately 1,000 U.S. troops from neighboring Niger last year.
