US President Donald Trump has ordered the preparation of plans for military action in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militant groups, accusing the government of not doing enough to halt the killing of Christians.
Trump did not specify which killings he was referring to, but claims of genocide against Nigeria's Christians have recently circulated, particularly within right-wing circles in the US.
Groups monitoring violence in Nigeria argue that there is no substantial evidence indicating that Christians are being killed at higher rates than Muslims, given the country's roughly equal religious demographics.
The Nigerian government has yet to respond to the US's military threat. President Bola Tinubu underscored the country’s commitment to religious tolerance and clarified that the security challenges affect individuals across various faiths.
In a social media post, Trump announced he had instructed the US Department of War to prepare for potential action and signaled a halt to all aid to Nigeria unless the government acts to protect its citizens.
Trump remarked on the potential speed and severity of a military intervention, stating, If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!
Accompanying his statements, Trump declared Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern due to the perceived existential threat to its Christian population, a designation that subjects Nigeria to US sanctions for severe violations of religious freedom.
In response, President Tinubu stated his government's commitment to collaborating with the US and the international community to safeguard all faith communities. He rejected the characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant.
While jihadist groups like Boko Haram have caused widespread devastation in northeastern Nigeria for over a decade, significantly affecting the Muslim population, violence in central Nigeria often arises from land disputes between Muslim herders and Christian farmers. Numerous deadly encounters have ensued but most reports show atrocities committed by both sides without evidence of targeting Christians specifically.
Despite Trump's long-standing narrative of having avoided war during his presidency, rising calls, particularly from conservative factions, are pushing for more attention to the situation in Nigeria.
Additional reporting by Chris Ewokor in Abuja.
