US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could launch multiple military strikes in Nigeria if violence against Christian communities continues.
In an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, Mr. Trump suggested that a recent Christmas Day operation against militants was not necessarily a one-off event.
“I’d love to make it a one-time strike,” the president said. “But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.”
The comments follow a US military operation on 25 December targeting Islamic State (IS) affiliates in northwest Nigeria. While Washington initially described the mission as a counter-terrorism effort requested by the Nigerian government, Mr. Trump’s latest remarks have shifted the focus toward religious persecution.
A ‘mostly Christian’ victimhood?
The president’s rhetoric has sparked debate over the nature of the conflict in Nigeria, where various armed groups, including Boko Haram and IS West Africa Province (Iswap), have waged a decade-long insurgency.
When challenged on data showing that these extremist groups have killed more Muslims than Christians, Mr. Trump acknowledged that Muslims were also victims but stood by his assessment.
“I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians,” he said.
Nigeria rejects ‘genocide’ claims
The Nigerian government has consistently pushed back against the narrative that the violence in the country’s north constitutes a genocide against Christians.
Officials in Abuja point out that:
- Diverse victims: Both Muslim and Christian communities have been devastated by the insurgency.
- Mixed motives: Violent “bandit” groups and jihadists often target villages for economic reasons or territorial control, regardless of faith.
- Sovereignty: Nigeria has emphasised that while it welcomes international counter-terrorism cooperation, it rejects the characterisation of the conflict as a religious war.
The Christmas Day strike marked a significant escalation in US military involvement in West Africa. With Mr. Trump now tying future military action to the protection of specific religious groups, analysts warn of potential diplomatic friction between Washington and Abuja over the management of Nigeria’s internal security crisis.
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