Washington, D.C. — Former U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to launch military attacks in Nigeria, accusing the government of allowing the killing of Christians and failing to stop what he described as “horrible atrocities.”
In a strongly worded post on social media on Saturday, Trump said he had directed the “Department of War” to prepare for “possible action” against Nigeria, warning that the U.S. would respond swiftly if the alleged violence continues.
“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! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!” Trump wrote.
He added that 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 also said the U.S. would immediately cut off all forms of assistance to Nigeria if the government “continues to allow the killing of Christians.”
The post came barely 24 hours after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu publicly rejected Washington’s decision to include Nigeria on the U.S. State Department’s list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC). Tinubu had earlier dismissed Trump’s earlier remarks as “baseless and provocative,” while Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the country’s commitment to religious freedom and its determination to combat violent extremism.
Trump’s renewed threat echoed sentiments from right-wing lawmakers and conservative advocacy groups in the United States who claim that Christians in Nigeria are being systematically targeted.
While international observers and human rights organizations have raised concerns over Nigeria’s security situation, including attacks by Boko Haram and other armed groups — many experts maintain that the violence is driven by complex social, ethnic, and economic factors rather than an organized campaign of religious persecution.
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The Nigerian government has not issued an immediate response to Trump’s latest comments but has previously insisted that the constitution guarantees freedom of religion and that counterterrorism efforts are applied without discrimination.
Analysts warn that Trump’s rhetoric could inflame diplomatic tensions and deepen misunderstanding over Nigeria’s internal security challenges, even as both nations continue to cooperate on counterterrorism and humanitarian initiatives.
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