Trump to Nigeria: Stop the killings or face military action
US President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy military forces to Nigeria to stop the alleged genocide of Christians in the country. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump directed the Department of War to prepare for "possible action" if the killings continue. He also threatened to halt all aid and assistance to Nigeria if President Bola Tinubu's administration fails to end the alleged persecution and killing of Christians.Trump claimed that "thousands of Christians are being killed" and that "Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter". He designated Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern", a designation used by the US State Department for nations accused of severe violations of religious freedom ¹.
However, President Tinubu faulted the decision, describing it as a misrepresentation of Nigeria's religious reality. Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria is a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty and that the government remains committed to protecting all citizens regardless of faith.
The Nigerian government has vowed to engage with the US over the matter, with the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating that they will continue to discuss the issue with the US government through their missions in Washington DC, Atlanta, and New York.
Some lawmakers have also reacted, with a ranking member of the House of Representatives saying that the visit to meet US congressmen would be fast-tracked. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described claims of Christian genocide as "gross exaggeration", while a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines warned that Trump's decision could strain Nigeria's global image and weaken key international partnerships ¹.
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