US President Donald Trump has instructed the American military to prepare for possible action in Nigeria, accusing the West African nation’s government of failing to protect Christians from Islamist militant groups.
Trump, in a post shared on social media on Saturday, claimed he had directed the “US Department of War” to be ready for intervention, warning that unless the Nigerian government acted swiftly, he might send troops “guns a blazing.” He also announced that all aid to Nigeria would be cut, describing it as “the now disgraced country.”
While Trump did not specify which incidents prompted his statement, allegations of widespread persecution of Christians in Nigeria have recently circulated among some right-wing groups in the United States. However, organizations monitoring religious and political violence in the country say there is no evidence to suggest that Christians are being targeted more than Muslims. Nigeria’s population is almost evenly divided between followers of the two faiths.
Responding to Trump’s comments, Daniel Bwala, an adviser to Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, told the BBC that any potential military assistance from the US should be coordinated with Nigeria’s authorities.
“Nigeria would welcome support in tackling the Islamist insurgents, but we are a sovereign nation,” Bwala said.
He added that the militant groups were not exclusively targeting people based on religion and had attacked individuals from different faith backgrounds or none at all.
President Tinubu has previously emphasized that religious tolerance remains a central value in Nigeria, noting that the country’s security challenges affect citizens “across faiths and regions.”
Trump’s remarks have drawn mixed reactions globally, with analysts warning that direct military involvement could strain diplomatic relations between Washington and Abuja if pursued without mutual agreement.