Trump Calls for Military Action in Nigeria Amid Rising Tensions

Sun Nov 02 2025 21:39:36 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a surprising move, President Donald Trump has instructed the U.S. military to prepare for potential action against Nigeria due to concerns over the treatment of Christians amidst escalating violence. This decision follows claims of genocide against Christians in the country, which has sparked debates on religious freedom and security in Nigeria.

President Donald Trump ordered military plans to be prepared for intervention in Nigeria, citing the government's failure to stop violence against Christians. He declared Nigeria a 'Country of Particular Concern' and threatened to cut aid. Meanwhile, Nigerian officials maintain that the country practices religious tolerance and faces security challenges affecting all faiths.

US President Donald Trump has ordered the preparation of plans for military action in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militant groups, accusing the government of not doing enough to halt the killing of Christians.

Trump did not specify which killings he was referring to, but claims of a genocide against Nigeria's Christians have been circulating in recent weeks among some right-wing US circles.

Monitoring groups emphasize that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that Christians face violence disproportionately compared to Muslims in Nigeria, a country that is roughly evenly divided between the two religions.

The Nigerian government has yet to respond to the US military threat. However, President Bola Tinubu has reiterated the country's commitment to religious tolerance and indicated that security challenges impact people 'across faiths and regions.'

In a social media post, Trump stated he instructed the US Department of War to prepare for 'possible action' and warned of a military response unless Nigeria intervenes, indicating that all aid would be cut. He declared: 'If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!'

Trump previously designated Nigeria a 'Country of Particular Concern' due to the 'existential threat' to its Christian population, claiming 'thousands' have been killed without providing evidence. This designation allows for sanctions on nations violating religious freedom.

Following these remarks, Tinubu affirmed Nigeria's commitment to collaborating with the US and the international community in protecting all communities. He rejected the characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant, stating it does not represent the nation's reality.

In Nigeria, jihadist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, have caused extensive violence primarily in the north-eastern regions, impacting many Muslims. Furthermore, ongoing conflicts between herder and farming communities in central Nigeria often result in tit-for-tat attacks, without a clear evidence base for religiously targeted violence.

Despite previously voicing a stance against US military interventions during his presidency, Trump faces mounting pressure from right-leaning circles to take action regarding Nigeria’s religious issues.