Trump Threatens Attack on Nigeria Over Alleged Killings of Christians

United States President Donald Trump has threatened to launch military strikes against Nigeria over what he described as the “continued killing of Christians” in the country.

In a fiery social media post on Saturday, Trump said he had directed the newly renamed Department of War to “prepare for possible action,” warning that any U.S. strike would be “fast, vicious, and sweet.”

“The U.S. 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,” Trump wrote. He accused the Nigerian government of failing to curb what he termed “horrible atrocities” against Christians and announced the suspension of U.S. assistance to Nigeria.

The Nigerian government swiftly rejected the allegations, calling Trump’s remarks “false and misleading.”

In a statement released in Abuja, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting citizens of all faiths, describing Nigeria as “a nation of religious freedom and tolerance.”

“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu said. “Our government continues to address security challenges affecting citizens across faiths and regions.”

Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, added that Nigeria “has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength.”

Trump’s threat comes just a day after Nigeria was placed on the U.S. State Department’s list of “Countries of Particular Concern” for alleged religious persecution.

However, analysts and rights groups have criticised the claim of a “Christian genocide” as politically motivated and oversimplified.

Ebenezer Obadare, a Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said that violence in Nigeria affects “Christians, Muslims, and non-believers alike,” warning that an invasion would “override Nigeria’s sovereignty and prove counterproductive.”

Observers fear that Trump’s comments could strain diplomatic relations between Washington and Abuja at a time when both countries are cooperating to combat terrorism and promote stability in West Africa.