Diplomatic tensions escalated yesterday between Nigeria and the United States (U.S.) following President Donald Trump’s renewed threat to launch military strikes over alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria – a claim the Nigerian government has firmly rejected as misleading.
Trump, in a series of social media posts, accused the Nigerian government of “turning a blind eye” to attacks on Christians, and announced that he had directed the U.S. Department of War to “prepare for possible action”. He warned that Washington could “go in guns-a-blazing” and halt all assistance to Nigeria if the alleged killings continued.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, we will completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists committing these horrible atrocities.If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet. The Nigerian Government better move fast!”, Trump posted.
The threat followed Trump’s recent designation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ for alleged religious persecution – a decision that has drawn condemnation from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and senior Nigerian officials.
In response, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Department of War was indeed “preparing for action” in Nigeria.
Hegseth wrote on X: “The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria — and anywhere — must end immediately. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists committing these atrocities”.
The remarks triggered outrage, as the Presidency dismissed Trump’s assertions as “alarmist” and “detached from reality”.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said President Tinubu was “well ahead of the orchestrated game unfolding in America”, insisting that his administration had already taken decisive steps to strengthen national security.
Onanuga said: “President Bola Tinubu told the new Service Chiefs on Thursday that Nigerians want results. No more excuses. He has set clear expectations, emphasising innovation, courage, and patriotism in the war against insurgency”.
President Tinubu, he added, has implemented sweeping changes in the military and is deploying advanced technology to combat emerging threats across the North and other flashpoints.
Meanwhile, another presidential aide, Daniel Bwala, disclosed that President Tinubu and President Trump are expected to meet soon – either at the State House in Abuja or the White House in Washington — to discuss the controversy and align strategies against terrorism.
“Both leaders share a common interest in fighting insurgency,” Bwala said. “President Trump has supported Nigeria by authorising arms sales, which Tinubu’s administration has effectively utilised with measurable results”, he further stated.
He noted that part of the discussion would centre on differing perceptions – whether terrorist attacks in Nigeria specifically target Christians or people of all faiths.
The situation took a further twist when a U.S. Congressman, Riley Moore, echoed Trump’s warning, urging Nigeria to act swiftly. “If you do not correct the current state of inaction to stop the killing of our brothers and sisters in Christ, the days of the U.S. looking the other way are over”, Moore posted on X.
