The United States has warned of possible military intervention in Nigeria if the government fails to halt the ongoing killing of Christians across the country.
Pete Hegseth, the US secretary of Defence, disclosed this on Saturday while reacting to a Truth Social post by former US President Donald Trump, who accused the Nigerian government of ignoring attacks on Christians.
Trump, in his post, wrote: “If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, 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.”
“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. Warning: the Nigerian government better move fast!”
Reacting on X (formerly Twitter), Hegseth confirmed readiness for potential action, echoing Trump’s directive.
“Yes sir. The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria — and anywhere — must end immediately,” Hegseth wrote.
“The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
The latest warning comes barely 24 hours after Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” citing allegations of widespread Christian persecution.
Trump attributed what he described as the “mass slaughter” of Christians to radical Islamists operating across Nigeria.
In response, President Bola Tinubu rejected the classification, insisting that Nigeria remains a democratic nation founded on constitutional freedoms, including the right to religion and belief.
