Former US President Donald Trump has ordered the US military to prepare for possible action in Nigeria, accusing the government of failing to protect Christians from attacks by Islamist militant groups.
In a fiery social media post on Saturday, Trump declared that he had instructed the “Department of War” to be ready for “possible action,” warning that if the Nigerian government does not intervene, the US could strike “fast, vicious, and sweet.”
He claimed that Nigeria’s Christian population was facing “genocide” and accused the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of negligence, vowing to cut all aid to what he described as “the now disgraced country.”
“If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet — just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!” Trump wrote.
Following his remarks, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth responded online, confirming that preparations were underway, saying:
“Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
The comments have stirred intense international debate, with many analysts warning that such threats could inflame already fragile security tensions in Nigeria.
An advisor to President Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, acknowledged Trump’s intent to help Nigeria fight insecurity but cautioned that the country remains a sovereign state. He also dismissed claims of a Christian genocide, explaining that extremist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) target people indiscriminately, regardless of religion.
“We know the heart and intent of Trump is to help us fight insecurity,” Bwala said in an interview with the BBC, adding that “the insurgents have killed people of all faiths or none.”
Trump also announced that he had designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” — a US classification typically applied to nations accused of violating religious freedoms. The move allows Washington to impose sanctions or diplomatic restrictions.
In response, President Tinubu rejected the notion that Nigeria was religiously intolerant, asserting that his administration is committed to protecting all citizens.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu said, stressing that both Christians and Muslims have suffered from terrorism.
For over a decade, Boko Haram and ISWAP have waged a brutal insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions. However, data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) indicates that most victims of jihadist attacks have been Muslims, challenging narratives of a one-sided religious conflict.
Meanwhile, violence in central Nigeria between Muslim herders and predominantly Christian farmers continues to claim lives, driven largely by land and resource disputes rather than religion.
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly stated that there is no credible evidence of targeted genocide against Christians in Nigeria.
While Trump’s comments have resonated with parts of the US conservative Christian base, international observers have urged restraint, warning that unilateral military threats could complicate regional stability and strain US–Africa relations.
Political analysts note that Trump’s remarks appear to be part of a broader push to bolster his foreign policy credentials ahead of the 2026 US presidential elections, positioning himself once again as a defender of global Christianity.
As of now, the US State Department and Pentagon have not issued any official confirmation of active military plans in Nigeria, though diplomatic discussions are reportedly ongoing between Washington and Abuja.
