U.S. WAR SECRETARY SAYS DEPARTMENT “PREPARING FOR ACTION” IN NIGERIA — REPOSTS PRESIDENT’S WARNING ON X

Editor3 weeks ago

0 0 2 minutes read

Abuja / Washington, D.C. — United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has publicly confirmed that the Department of War is “preparing for action” in Nigeria, reposting and amplifying President Donald Trump’s warning that Washington may intervene militarily if alleged attacks on Christians in Nigeria continue.

Hegseth’s repost on X (formerly Twitter) included a direct, stark admonition to the Nigerian government and quoted the president’s warning. In the post, which links to the U.S. president’s Truth Social statement, Hegseth wrote:
“Yes sir. 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.”

The statement came a day after President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over what he described as a “mass slaughter” of Christians by radical Islamist groups, and threatened to withdraw U.S. aid and consider direct military action. Trump’s original post warned that U.S. forces “may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists.”

The Trump, Hegseth comments mark a sharp escalation in rhetoric between Washington and Abuja. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu promptly rejected the characterization of Nigeria given by the U.S. president, insisting Nigeria remains a constitutional democracy that protects freedom of religion and belief. Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also described the U.S. claims as unfounded and inconsistent with realities on the ground, and said the government remains committed to protecting all citizens regardless of faith.

Analysts say the exchange raises immediate diplomatic and security questions: a CPC designation can carry policy and aid consequences, while public U.S. threats of unilateral military action against groups on Nigerian soil risk inflaming nationalist sentiment in Abuja and complicating counter-insurgency cooperation with Nigerian security forces. International law experts note that any cross-border military operation would face legal, logistical and political hurdles, including the need to demonstrate imminent threat, secure domestic approvals in the United States, and manage possible fallout with regional partners.

Nigerian government sources say they are engaging with U.S. officials to clarify the situation and to press for evidence supporting the allegations. Nigeria’s security services repeatedly say they are fighting multiple armed groups across parts of the country and have been working with regional and international partners on counter-terrorism efforts.

Human rights and religious groups have reacted with alarm to both the alleged killings and the recent U.S. rhetoric. Some advocacy organisations welcomed international attention to attacks on civilians but cautioned that threats of foreign military intervention risk civilian harm unless coordinated with Nigeria and based on verified intelligence.

FG’s Renewed Support Accelerates Ogoni Cleanup, HYPREP Nears Completion of Centre for Environmental Excellence — HYPREP Coordinator Reveals

Washington has not provided public evidence in the statements by the president or the repost by Secretary Hegseth detailing the allegations behind the CPC redesignation. The U.S. Department of War’s statement on X signals that Washington is considering a range of responses, from aid suspension to possible kinetic options, unless the Nigerian government takes measures it deems sufficient to protect persecuted groups.

The situation remains fluid. Both diplomatic channels and social media will likely shape immediate developments as Abuja and Washington exchange messages and as regional and international stakeholders weigh in.