By Obinna Uballa
United States President Donald Trump has again warned that American troops could be deployed to Nigeria or that air strikes could be launched against Islamist militants, saying Washington would not “stand by” while what he described as “record numbers” of Christians are being killed in the country.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening as he returned to Washington from his Florida home, Trump said a U.S. intervention in Nigeria was on the table.
“It could be,” he said when asked if he was considering putting troops on the ground. “A lot of things are envisaged. They are killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria. And you know, you have other countries that are very bad also. That part of the world is very bad. They are killing Christians in very large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen.”
The comment followed Trump’s Saturday directive ordering the U.S. military to “prepare for action” in Nigeria, accusing the government of failing to protect its Christian citizens.
In a fiery post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that he had instructed the Department of War to get ready for “possible action” against Islamist militants and warned that U.S. aid to Nigeria could be halted.
“If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet – just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!” Trump declared, adding that he could send troops into the country “guns-a-blazing” if the killings continued.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth quickly endorsed the statement, writing: “Yes sir. 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.”
Trump’s warning came a day after his administration re-listed Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for what it described as severe violations of religious freedom — placing Africa’s most populous nation alongside China, Russia, North Korea, Myanmar, and Pakistan.
Nigeria pushes back, urges caution
The statements have triggered alarm across Nigeria, with social media users expressing concern over possible U.S. intervention and urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to intensify its fight against jihadist groups.
Daniel Bwala, a presidential advisor, told the BBC that while Nigeria would welcome American assistance against Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the country remains “a sovereign nation” and any military action must be jointly coordinated.
“Nigeria would appreciate U.S. help in tackling terrorism, but it has to be a collaborative effort,” he said. “The jihadists have killed people from all faiths, or none at all. They are not targeting Christians alone.”
Bwala, a Christian, also downplayed Trump’s rhetoric. “We know the heart and intent of Trump is to help us fight insecurity,” he said, adding that Nigeria was not taking his comments literally and hoped the U.S. president would soon meet with Tinubu to discuss the issue.
Tinubu defends Nigeria’s religious balance
Responding to Washington’s designation, President Tinubu rejected claims that Nigeria is religiously intolerant, insisting that violence in the country is not driven by faith.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu said in a statement. “Our security challenges affect people across faiths and regions.”
For more than a decade, jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP have waged a brutal insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions. But conflict-monitoring organisations, including the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), report that the majority of victims have been Muslims.
In Nigeria’s central belt, recurring clashes between predominantly Muslim herders and largely Christian farmers have also claimed thousands of lives. However, human-rights groups stress that these conflicts stem from competition over land and water rather than religious persecution.
Analysts warn of diplomatic fallout
Trump’s remarks have resonated among conservative and evangelical groups in the U.S., which have long accused Nigeria’s government of failing to protect Christians. But international analysts say the allegations of a “Christian genocide” are not supported by evidence.
Although Trump frequently boasts of avoiding new wars during his presidency and casting himself as a peacemaker, his latest threat marks one of his most aggressive foreign policy statements since returning to the White House.
Diplomatic experts warn that even rhetorical threats of U.S. military action could strain relations between Washington and Abuja at a time when Nigeria’s armed forces are battling multiple insurgencies across the country.
