Donald Trump threatens to invade Nigeria and stop aid over “killing of christians”

Donald Trump threatened Nigeria with an invasion and a halt to all aid if it does not stop “the killings of Christians,” which, according to the US President, the African country “tolerates.”

“If the Nigerian government continues to tolerate the killings of Christians, the United States will immediately stop all aid to Nigeria and could very well go into that now-disgraced country and open fire to completely wipe out the Islamist terrorists committing these horrific atrocities. I am directing the War Department to prepare for possible [military] action,” he stated specifically.

Nigeria faces the activity of Boko Haram and other Islamist groups who indiscriminately murder citizens regardless of religion. Nigeria is also affected by gangs they call “Bandits”, who attack villages, steal, and kidnap people for ransom.

Hegseth’s Response to Trump on Nigeria

The US Secretary of Defense, receiving the directive from United States President Donald Trump via X, responded on the same platform. “Yes, sir,” he initially said, adding that “The murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria—and anywhere else—must stop immediately.”

“The Department of Defense is preparing for action. Either the government of Nigeria will protect the Christians, or we will kill the Islamist terrorists committing these horrific atrocities,” wrote Pete Hegseth.

The Trump administration once again added the West African country to a US watch list due to alleged persecution of Christians. Trump later threatened that US forces might “invade” Nigeria to strike Islamists. In reality, Muslims in the country are multiply affected by the actions of these groups in northern Nigeria.

The issue began with US Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who claimed that “mass killings of Christians” were happening in Nigeria and urged Congress to designate Abuja as a country that violates religious freedoms. Neither the senator nor the US President presented evidence to prove that Christians suffer more than Muslims from these groups.