Tensions between Nigeria and the United States have escalated following a fresh threat from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who on Saturday warned of possible military action if the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria continues.
Posting on his official Truth Social account, Trump announced that the U.S. Defense Department had been placed on standby for potential conflict.
He also threatened to halt all American financial and humanitarian assistance to Nigeria if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration failed to stop what he described as widespread killings of Christians.
“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 who are committing these horrible atrocities.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians,” he wrote in the viral Truth Social post.
Responding to Trump’s remarks, U.S. Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth stated that the Department of War was already “preparing for action.”
According to Hegseth, American forces are ready to eliminate “the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities in Nigeria.”
He wrote, “The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria — and anywhere — must end immediately. 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.”
As of the time of this report, the Nigerian government has not officially responded to Trump’s latest comments.
It would be recalled that on Friday, Trump reclassified Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged Christian genocide — a move promptly rejected by both the Nigerian government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his formal response, President Tinubu stated that the country “stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement earlier on Saturday dismissing Trump’s allegations, saying they do not “reflect the situation on ground.”
The renewed diplomatic dispute has triggered widespread debate among Nigerians within the past 24 hours.
Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume urged the federal government to enlist the expertise of experienced diplomats to engage with the U.S. and prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
Meanwhile, Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi claimed the “Christian genocide” narrative was politically driven, adding that “all the bluff is about the 2027” general election.
Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad also criticized those who supported Nigeria’s CPC designation, saying they “have landed the country in a mess.”
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