Former U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to halt aid and authorise possible military action in Nigeria, accusing the Nigerian government of allowing the “killing of Christians.”
In a post on his social media platform on Friday, Trump said he had instructed the Pentagon to “prepare for possible action,” warning that the United States could intervene militarily if the violence continues.
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump wrote. “WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”
Trump also announced that Nigeria had been designated a “country of particular concern,” a U.S. State Department category reserved for nations accused of severe violations of religious freedom. He claimed Christianity faced “an existential threat” in the West African nation and said he had asked Republican lawmakers Riley Moore (West Virginia) and Tom Cole (Oklahoma), along with the House Appropriations Committee, to investigate the matter.
Nigeria, home to more than 230 million people, is roughly evenly split between Christians and Muslims. Amnesty International recently described escalating violence by armed groups in the country’s north as a “humanitarian crisis,” with civilians being targeted along religious, ethnic, and economic lines.
Responding to Trump’s remarks, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rejected claims of religious intolerance, saying they misrepresent the country’s reality.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and belief for all Nigerians,” Tinubu said in a statement.
He added that his administration maintains “open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike” and remains committed to addressing security challenges that affect citizens across faiths and regions.
Tinubu also reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to cooperate with the U.S. and international partners to “deepen understanding and strengthen protection of communities of all faiths.”
Nigeria has in recent months witnessed renewed attacks by the extremist group Boko Haram and its affiliates. In September, dozens were reported killed in northern Nigeria following a resurgence of militant activity, according to the Associated Press.
