U.S. President Donald Trump has again threatened military action against Nigeria in a video broadcast, ordering U.S. defence officials to prepare contingency options and warning that Washington could cut off all aid if Abuja does not stop what he described as the “killing of Christians.”
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the kill!ngs of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria. We are going to do things to Nigeria that Nigeria is not going to be happy about. Guns are blazing to completely wipe out Islamic terrorists. I’m hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it would be fast and vicious.”
This is coming days after Mr. Trump announced Nigeria’s designation as a “country of particular concern” on religious freedom. This prompted immediate diplomatic pushback in Abuja and alarm among international observers, who warned the language risked escalating tensions and undermining diplomatic channels.
White House and Pentagon officials confirmed they had been told to draw up options, while Nigerian officials angrily rejected the characterization that their government tolerates targeted killings of Christians and emphasised that the country’s security challenges affect people of different faiths and regions.
