According to the head of the US, he instructed the military department to "prepare for possible actions." Trump stated that he may send troops to Nigeria "if the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians."
US President Donald Trump threatened to send American armed forces to Nigeria "if the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians." The head of the White House made the corresponding post on Saturday, November 1, on the social network Truth Social.
According to him, in such a case, "the US will immediately cease all aid and support to Nigeria" and, "quite possibly," deploy its forces to the country to "completely destroy the Islamic terrorists committing these terrible atrocities." Trump added that he has already instructed the country's military department to "prepare for possible actions." "THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER HURRY!" - the American leader wrote.
His words were responded to by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. "The killings of innocent Christians in Nigeria - and in any other country - must stop immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian government will protect Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists committing these terrible atrocities," he wrote on the social network X.
Nigerian President Denies Accusations Against His Country
"The characterization of Nigeria as a country intolerant to other religions does not reflect our national reality," wrote Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on the social network X on November 1. "Freedom of worship and tolerance have been and will always be fundamental principles of our collective identity," Tinubu added.
In March 2025, US Congressman Chris Smith (Republican from New Jersey) called on the State Department to include Nigeria on the list of "countries of particular concern." In early October, Republican Senator from Texas Ted Cruz and House Representative Riley Moore (Republican, West Virginia) accused the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to the "mass killings" of Christians.
Tensions Within Nigeria
The north of Nigeria is predominantly Muslim, while the south is predominantly Christian, with both faiths represented almost equally.
In the northeast of the country, the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram has been active, and since 2009 its activities have led to more than 35,000 casualties, with over two million becoming internally displaced persons.
In central Nigeria, herders - mostly Muslims - have repeatedly clashed with farmers - mostly Christians. However, AFP notes that this conflict is largely driven by the struggle for access to land resources.
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