WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump has threatened to launch a military offensive in Nigeria if the reported killings of Christians are not stopped immediately.
In a post shared on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said he had directed the U.S. Department of War to prepare for possible action, accusing the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to what he described as “genocide against Christians.
If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may go in ‘guns-a-blazing’ to wipe out the Islamic terrorists behind these atrocities, he declared.
As of press time, the Nigerian government had not issued an official response to the U.S. President’s remarks.
Trump’s warning follows his earlier designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concerna category reserved for nations accused of severe religious persecution.
In another post, the U.S. leader claimed that thousands of Christians are being killed” in Nigeria and insisted that “something must be done.
President Bola Tinubu, reacting through his verified X handle, dismissed Trump’s assertions as baseless and a misrepresentation of Nigeria’s reality.
Nigeria is a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty, Tinubu said, stressing that the nation’s diversity is built on tolerance and freedom of worship.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that diplomatic engagement with the U.S. was ongoing through Nigeria’s missions in Washington, Atlanta, and New York.
A senior lawmaker disclosed that a parliamentary delegation was preparing to visit the U.S. Congress to provide clarity on the issue.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga rejected the genocide claim, describing it as a “gross exaggeration.
In response to a post by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Onanuga said Nigeria’s insecurity challenge was not religiously motivated.
Christians, Muslims, churches, and mosques are attacked randomly. What we need from America is military support against terrorists, not stigma, he wrote.
Former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, cautioned that Trump’s statement could damage Nigeria’s global image and jeopardise military cooperation with Western allies. This could affect visa approvals, arms deals, and bilateral support Nigeria relies on to combat terrorism, Farounbi warned.
He urged Abuja to present verifiable data showing its commitment to prosecuting perpetrators of sectarian violence.
Nigeria remains one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s top arms importers. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the country purchased 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from the U.S. under a $500 million deal in 2018 and secured another $997 million agreement for attack helicopters in 2022.
Between 2020 and mid-2025, Nigeria reportedly spent over ₦800 billion on arms imports, underscoring the deep defence ties between both countries.
Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, appealed for calm, urging Nigerians to study the situation carefully before drawing conclusions.
Similarly, Evangelist Ezekiel Dachomo of the Church of Christ in Nations described Trump’s declaration as a validation of long-standing concerns,but emphasized that Nigeria belongs to both Christians and Muslims.
We do not hate Muslims. We hate terrorism and the evil that turns people against one another, Dachomo said.
