U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday renewed his threat of a possible military intervention in Nigeria, accusing the West African nation of failing to curb attacks on Christians — a claim the Nigerian government has repeatedly denied.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he had not ruled out the deployment of U.S. troops or air strikes against what he described as “Islamist extremists” targeting Christians.
“Could be — I mean, a lot of things. I envisage a lot of things,” Trump said when asked if military action was imminent.
“They’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen.”
His comments followed a Truth Social post on Saturday in which he disclosed that he had directed the Pentagon to prepare a possible plan of attack in Nigeria. The directive came just a day after he warned that Christianity faced an “existential threat” in Africa’s most populous country.
“If Nigeria fails to stop the killings, the United States will launch an attack. It will be fast, vicious, and sweet — just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians,” Trump wrote.
The remarks have heightened tensions between Washington and Abuja, prompting calls for restraint and diplomacy.
Responding on Sunday, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, told AFP that Nigeria remained a strategic U.S. ally in the global war on terror.
“Nigeria is the U.S.’s partner in the global fight against terrorism. When leaders meet, there would be better outcomes,” Bwala said, adding that Nigeria welcomed U.S. cooperation “as long as it respects our territorial integrity.”
Bwala also downplayed the tone of Trump’s statements, describing them as “his own style of communication.”
“We do not see the post in the literal sense,” he said. “We believe it’s intended to force a sit-down between the two leaders so they can forge a common front against insecurity.”
He had earlier hinted that a meeting between Tinubu and Trump could take place soon, either in Abuja or Washington.
“Differences as to whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or all faiths will be discussed and resolved by the two leaders when they meet,” Bwala wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
President Tinubu, in a statement on Saturday, rejected Trump’s description of Nigeria as religiously intolerant, insisting that the country “remains committed to protecting the rights and freedoms of all faiths.”
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu said.
Nigeria, with a population of more than 220 million evenly split between Christians and Muslims, has long battled terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, as well as deadly clashes between farmers and herders.
Security experts warn that Trump’s renewed rhetoric — coupled with his threat of unilateral action — could strain U.S.-Nigeria relations and complicate ongoing military cooperation between both nations.
