United States President Donald Trump has once again raised concerns over what he described as the continued killing and persecution of Christians by Islamic terrorist groups, reaffirming his stance during the unveiling of his “Board of Peace Charter” in Davos, Switzerland.
Speaking on Thursday, January 22, at the launch of the initiative, Trump said his administration was taking decisive steps to eliminate extremist groups responsible for attacks on Christians, particularly in Nigeria. The Board of Peace Charter, which reportedly carries a $1 billion membership fee and has drawn attention for its controversial guest list, was presented by Trump as part of broader efforts to address global insecurity.
Referencing Nigeria specifically, the US president said terrorist groups operating in parts of the country had killed “thousands and thousands of Christians,” adding that his administration had intensified military actions against them.
“And in Nigeria, where I am annihilating terrorists who are killing Christians, we’ve hit them very hard,” Trump said. “They’ve killed thousands and thousands of Christians. What’s that all about?”
Trump also pointed to the December 26 airstrike carried out in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, confirming that the operation killed several terrorists. According to him, the strike was part of coordinated efforts to weaken insurgent groups and prevent further attacks.
The US president recalled that his administration had previously designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern due to repeated terrorist violence in several northern states. He also noted that he had earlier warned that the United States could deploy troops if the killings continued.
While those comments had attracted mixed reactions within Nigeria and the international community, the US government later confirmed that the December 26 airstrike was conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian government and, according to official statements, resulted in no civilian casualties.
Trump maintained that the actions taken so far demonstrate his administration’s commitment to confronting terrorism and protecting vulnerable communities affected by extremist violence.
