Trump Threatens Military Action in Nigeria Over Christian Persecution Claims
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to begin planning potential military action in Nigeria, warning that the West African nation could face immediate suspension of all U.S. aid and a possible armed intervention if it “continues to allow the killing of Christians.”
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| Image Source: Official ABAT |
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!”
Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) November 1, 2025
Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect… pic.twitter.com/mRb9IqKMFm
Trump’s warning comes just a day after he formally re-designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government of failing to prevent targeted attacks on Christian communities.
The move reignites a long-standing debate over religious violence in Nigeria and raises tensions between Washington and Abuja at a time when security cooperation has already been strained.
President Tinubu responded swiftly, rejecting Trump’s characterisation as “inaccurate and unhelpful.” In a statement posted on X, he said, “Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so.
Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.”
With a population of over 220 million split nearly evenly between Christians and Muslims, Nigeria has long faced a volatile mix of violence -- from Islamist militancy in the north to farmer-herder conflicts in the Middle Belt and separatist uprisings in the southeast.
While attacks on Christian communities have occurred, security analysts repeatedly stress that Muslims in northern Nigeria remain the majority of victims of extremist violence, including attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
BREAKING: President Trump warns Nigerian government over Christian genocide. pic.twitter.com/ZnZgby7Wif
— Spiricoco Twittter (@SpiricocoNg) November 1, 2025
Trump’s remarks follow calls from Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Ted Cruz, who recently urged Congress to investigate what he described as “Christian mass murder” in Nigeria.
Trump echoed this sentiment, claiming that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria” and blaming “radical Islamists” for a campaign of “mass slaughter.”
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs pushed back, calling the accusations “overblown and politically motivated.” Spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa stated, “The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion.
Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength.”
Nigeria was first placed on the U.S. “country of particular concern” list in 2020 under Trump’s earlier presidency, citing systemic religious freedom violations.
The designation was later lifted in 2023 by the Biden administration, a move seen by observers as an attempt to repair strained diplomatic relations ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Nigeria.
The latest escalation by Trump signals a dramatic shift. He not only threatened to cut aid but also publicly instructed the Pentagon to draw up plans for a possible military intervention -- a rare step for a U.S. president to declare publicly, particularly in relation to a democratic partner.