US President Donald Trump has threatened to launch “swift and brutal” military action against Nigeria if the African country does not take immediate action to stop what he described as “mass murders of Christians”.
In a publication on the Truth Social network, Trump stated that he had ordered the Pentagon to prepare for a possible offensive and announced the immediate suspension of all US aid to Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa and one of the continent’s largest oil producers.
“If we attack, it will be swift, brutal and accurate — just as terrorists attack our beloved Christians,” Trump wrote.
The American president classified Nigeria as a “discredited country” and demanded that the Nigerian government act urgently.
According to Reuters agencythe US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth reinforced the message, writing on the X network (formerly Twitter): “Either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we eliminate the Islamic terrorists who are committing these atrocities.”
Nigeria rejects accusations and defends religious freedom
In response, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu categorically rejected accusations of religious intolerance, stressing that Nigeria is a plural nation, where the State protects freedom of belief.
“The characterization of Nigeria as an intolerant country does not reflect our national reality”, Tinubu said in a statement cited by Reuters. “Our government has worked consistently and sincerely to ensure the religious freedom of all citizens.”
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reinforced the message, ensuring that the country “will continue to combat violent extremism” and “defend all its citizens, regardless of faith or origin”. Abuja also stated that he hopes that Washington maintains “friendly and cooperative relations” with Nigeria.
“Country of special concern”
The threat comes after Trump re-included Nigeria on the list of “countries of special concern” for violations of religious freedom, a classification that had been removed in 2021 by then-president Joe Biden. The list also includes countries such as China, Russia, North Korea and Myanmar.
Trump claimed that “thousands of Christians” were killed by Islamic radicals in Nigeria – the African country has faced intercommunal violence and attacks by the jihadist group Boko Haram for years.
Nigeria, with around 220 million inhabitants and more than 200 ethnic groups, is divided between Christians in the south and Muslims in the north. Despite a long tradition of religious coexistence, local tensions and disputes over land and resources have fueled episodes of violence.