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Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has escalated pressure on Nigeria, declaring that the United States “cannot stand by” while Christians are being killed in the West African country.
In a televised address from behind a lectern bearing the seal of his office, Trump announced that he was redesignating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” in response to what he described as “horrific and targeted” attacks on Christians.
He warned that the U.S. would halt all aid assistance to Nigeria should the violence continue and ordered the U.S. Department of War to prepare for potential military action.
“When the Christians or any such group is slaughtered, like it’s happening in Nigeria… something has to be done. If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid assistance to Nigeria”, Trump said.
Trump further claimed that Christianity in Nigeria was facing an “existential threat,” linking the crisis to the activities of radical Islamist groups in the country’s northern region.
He said he had asked Congressman Riley Moore, and Tom Cole, House Appropriations Committee Chairman to investigate the matter and report back to him, adding that the U.S. “stands ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.”
In the same address, Trump suggested that airstrikes or ground operations were not off the table, describing any potential intervention as “vicious and sweet.”
He said, “We are going to do things to Nigerians that Nigeria is not going to be happy about 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 statement marks an escalation in Washington’s rhetoric toward Abuja since the United States redesignated Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom on October 31.
Trump accused the Nigerian government of failing to act fast enough to end what he called the “killing of Christians,” warning that “there would be hell to pay” if the violence continued.
The Nigerian government, however, has rejected the claims, insisting that the violence in the country is not religiously motivated but rooted in terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts affecting both Muslims and Christians.
The government said it welcomes international cooperation in tackling insecurity but will not tolerate any infringement on its sovereignty.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs have also clarified that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism is ongoing and that the government remains committed to protecting citizens of all faiths.
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They warned that any unilateral foreign military action would be unacceptable without the country’s consent.
International analysts have urged caution, warning that framing Nigeria’s security crisis as a one-sided religious war risks oversimplifying a complex conflict.
They note that while extremist attacks have indeed targeted Christian communities, many victims of the violence are Muslims and other non-combatants.
Although the “country of particular concern” designation allows Washington to impose sanctions or restrict aid, foreign policy experts say any direct U.S. military intervention in Nigeria would raise serious legal and diplomatic questions.
Nigeria, they argue, remains a critical regional player whose cooperation is essential to combating terrorism in West Africa.
