In a stunning declaration, U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States may take military action against Nigeria if the alleged killings of Christians in the country continue.
Trump made this statement on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, directing America’s Department of War to prepare for “possible action” should the violence persist. He also threatened to suspend all U.S. aid to Nigeria if President Bola Tinubu’s administration fails to protect Christian communities.
According to Trump, “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid 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.”
The Nigerian government had not officially responded to the U.S. President’s statement as of the time of this report.
President Bola Tinubu, however, later dismissed Trump’s claims as baseless and unfair. In a post on his official X (Twitter) account, Tinubu stated, “Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty. The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that diplomatic talks were already ongoing with the U.S. government through Nigerian missions in Washington DC, Atlanta, and New York.
Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga also described Trump’s genocide allegation as a “gross exaggeration,” saying Nigeria’s insecurity challenges are not driven by religion. “Christians, Muslims, churches, and mosques are attacked randomly,” he noted. “What our country needs from America is military support to fight extremists, not false labels.”
Meanwhile, the statement has drawn mixed reactions within the country. Evangelist Ezekiel Dachomo of the Church of Christ in Nations called Trump’s move “a victory for Nigerian Christians,” arguing that it validates years of complaints about persecution. In contrast, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto urged calm and patience, saying it was too early to draw conclusions.
Former Nigerian Ambassador Dr. Yemi Farounbi warned that Trump’s remarks could damage Nigeria’s image globally and strain relations with key allies. “This could make other nations see Nigeria as a country where freedom of worship is not adequately protected,” he said, urging the government to show credible evidence of its efforts to protect all citizens.
Analysts have also cautioned that the tension might affect ongoing military partnerships between both nations. Nigeria has procured several U.S.-made aircraft and weapons in recent years as part of its counterterrorism efforts, including a $500 million deal for A-29 Super Tucano jets and another $997 million package for AH-1Z attack helicopters.
Whether Trump’s statement is political rhetoric or a serious warning remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Nigeria’s internal security and religious harmony are once again under the international spotlight.
