President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could take military action against Nigeria if attacks on Christians continue.
The warning came less than a day after he officially declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” for what he described as the ongoing persecution of Christians. In a fiery post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote:
“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. 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’s statement followed his earlier declaration that Christianity in Nigeria faces an “existential threat,” accusing radical Islamist groups of murdering thousands of Christians while the government “looks away.”
The Nigerian government quickly dismissed Trump’s claims, describing them as “inaccurate and unfair.” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu insisted that Nigeria guarantees freedom of religion and that the violence in parts of the country stems from terrorism, banditry, and communal clashes—not religious persecution.
International analysts have urged caution, warning that Trump’s comments could strain U.S.–Nigeria relations and fuel diplomatic tensions. They noted that while attacks on Christians and Muslims occur across Nigeria, the conflicts often have deeper political and ethnic roots rather than being purely religious.
By labeling Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” the U.S. can impose sanctions and restrictions on aid. But Trump’s threat went further—signaling that Washington could consider military intervention if the killings continue.
As global attention turns to the matter, calls are growing for diplomatic engagement rather than confrontation to address the complex security crisis in Africa’s most populous nation.