United States President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could carry out additional military strikes in Nigeria if the killing of Christians continues, a claim the Nigerian government has strongly rejected, insisting that the country is not experiencing systematic religious persecution.
Trump made the remarks during an interview with The New York Times, published on Thursday, while responding to questions surrounding a United States military strike carried out in Nigeria on Christmas Day.
According to the report, the operation was conducted by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), which said the strike targeted Islamic State militants operating in north-western Nigeria and was executed in collaboration with Nigerian security forces.
At the time, Nigerian authorities described the attack as a “joint operation” against “terrorists,” stressing that it was not directed at any religious group and had no religious undertone.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, later reaffirmed that position, stating that the airstrikes were carried out with Nigeria’s “full cooperation, approval and intelligence support.” He emphasised that the operation neither violated Nigeria’s sovereignty nor targeted any particular religion.
However, speaking to The New York Times, Trump suggested that further military action could follow if violence against Christians persists.
“I’d love to make it a one-time strike … But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike,” Trump was quoted as saying.
When pressed on comments by his own Africa adviser that Islamic State and Boko Haram militants were killing more Muslims than Christians in Nigeria, Trump acknowledged that Muslims were also victims but insisted Christians were disproportionately affected.
“I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians,” he said.
Meanwhile, a United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, disclosed that the U.S. military fired 12 Tomahawk missiles at ISIS fighters in Nigeria during the operation, adding that the strikes marked only the beginning of a broader military campaign.
According to Moore, further action would follow in collaboration with Nigerian authorities as part of an expanded effort to combat extremist groups.
In late October, Trump had already raised alarm over what he described as an “existential threat” to Christianity in Nigeria, warning that the United States could intervene militarily if the Nigerian government failed to halt attacks on Christian communities.
The Nigerian government, however, dismissed those claims, reiterating that insecurity in the country is not religiously motivated and that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of insurgency, banditry and terrorism.
Following subsequent high-level engagements between both countries, including talks led by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Tribune Online reported that the U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, announced that the American military “is working aggressively with Nigeria to end the persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists.”
(Reuters)
