Trump orders U.S. military to prepare for invasion of Nigeria over ‘Christian genocide’

U.S President Donald Trump has warned that America could take military action against Nigeria over what he called the “continued killing of Christians” in the country.

Trump, in a post on social media Saturday, said he had ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for a possible strike, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to stop attacks on Christians.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA 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,” Trump said.
“If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!”

His comments came after Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, rejected Trump’s claims, saying Nigeria is not a country that promotes or tolerates religious persecution.

“Religious freedom and tolerance have always been a core part of our national identity,” Tinubu said in a statement. “Nigeria opposes religious persecution and guarantees protection for citizens of all faiths.”

Trump’s warning followed his decision to list Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” for alleged failure to curb attacks on Christians.

The US president claimed Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria, blaming “radical Islamists” for what he described as “mass slaughter.”

However, analysts and security experts note that Nigeria’s violence is complex and not purely religious. Many of the attacks are linked to terrorism, banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, and communal clashes.

A spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, restated the government’s position, saying the country would continue to protect all citizens regardless of religion.

“Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate diversity — that is our greatest strength,” Ebienfa said.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation of about 220 million people, has nearly equal numbers of Christians and Muslims. The country was previously placed on the US religious freedom watchlist in 2020 but removed in 2023 to improve diplomatic relations.