President Trump Orders Pentagon to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria over Christian genocide

• Trump’s recent threat of military intervention in Nigeria is “perilous” – Sowore cautions Nigerians
• Nigeria “stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty”-Tinubu

United States President Donald J. Trump has ordered the Department of War (Pentagon) to prepare for possible military operations in Nigeria if what he described as the “genocide of Christians by Islamic terrorists” continues.

The directive came barely 24 hours after the former U.S. president redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) — a classification reserved for nations accused of severe violations of religious freedom.

In a strongly worded post on his social media platform, Truth Social, President Trump warned that Washington would no longer tolerate the “mass slaughter” of Christians in Nigeria, accusing the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to the killings.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria,” Trump declared.

“We may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities. I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet—just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians.”

The post marked one of Trump’s most aggressive foreign policy pronouncements since his return to political prominence.

On Friday, the U.S. government under Trump re-listed Nigeria among countries designated as “Countries of Particular Concern”, citing alleged systemic violations of religious freedom and increasing attacks on Christian communities.

The CPC list, updated annually by the U.S. State Department, includes nations accused of tolerating or participating in religious persecution. Other countries currently on the list include China, North Korea, Russia, Myanmar, and Pakistan.

Explaining his decision, Trump said: “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern.’ But that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered like what is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide), something must be done!”

Trump’s comments have drawn mixed reactions globally, with religious rights groups welcoming the move, while others warn it could escalate diplomatic tensions between Washington and Abuja.

In addition to ordering military preparedness, President Trump also announced plans to immediately suspend all U.S. aid and assistance to Nigeria should the alleged persecution persist.

“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world,” he wrote.

Observers say this could affect U.S.-Nigeria cooperation on security, health, and education, where billions of dollars in U.S. assistance have been invested over the years.

Reacting to Trump’s directive, U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, confirmed that the Pentagon was “preparing for possible action” in response to the killings.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Hegseth said: “The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and anywhere must end immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”

The statement marked a rare and explicit confirmation of U.S. military readiness concerning a specific African country.

Analysts, however, say any military engagement would require congressional approval and a broader review of U.S.-Nigeria relations, especially given the strategic importance of Nigeria in West Africa’s counterterrorism efforts.

Several high-profile U.S. lawmakers have also voiced support for Trump’s position, calling for tougher sanctions and legislative action to pressure Nigeria.

Congressman Riley Moore (R-WV) described the directive as a “necessary warning shot” to Nigeria’s government.

“President Trump has provided a forewarning. If you do not correct the current state of inaction to stop the killing of our brothers and sisters in Christ, the days of the U.S. looking the other way are over. It will never happen on Trump’s watch,” Moore said.

“We want your people to live in peace — all of them, especially Christians. The President has been clear. I would not test his resolve. Many have tried and all have failed.”

In a related move, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) vowed to push new legislation targeting the enforcement of Sharia and blasphemy laws in Nigeria, which he claims are used to persecute Christians and suppress freedom of expression.

Cruz, a long-time advocate for global Christian rights, issued a statement on his official website praising Trump for the designation.

“I am deeply gratified to President Trump for making this determination,” he said.

“I have fought for years to counter the slaughter and persecution of Christians in Nigeria, and this year introduced legislation that will lock in the designation made today.”

The proposed bill, according to Cruz, will impose additional sanctions and accountability measures on Nigerian officials found to be complicit in enforcing Sharia or blasphemy laws.

Human rights advocates have repeatedly condemned Nigeria’s blasphemy statutes, citing cases where individuals have been sentenced to death or attacked by mobs over alleged religious offenses.

Trump’s threat of military intervention represents a sharp departure from traditional U.S. diplomacy toward Nigeria, a key African ally and major oil supplier.

International analysts warn that the rhetoric could strain bilateral relations, especially given Nigeria’s importance in regional stability and counterterrorism operations across the Sahel.

Dr. Anthony Johnson, a security analyst with the Council on Foreign Relations, said Trump’s comments “reflect a hard-power approach to global religious freedom issues.”

“While the concern for Christian lives is valid, threatening military action against a sovereign state sets a dangerous precedent. It risks undermining existing multilateral mechanisms for addressing human rights abuses,” he noted.

Within Nigeria, reactions to Trump’s comments have been mixed. Some Christian groups welcomed the move as a wake-up call to the Nigerian government, while others warned that foreign military threats could worsen tensions and embolden extremist groups.

As of press time, the Nigerian government had not issued an official response to Trump’s latest statement. However, diplomatic sources in Abuja suggested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was consulting with the U.S. Embassy and reviewing the implications of the potential policy shift.

A senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Nigeria “rejects any insinuation that it tolerates religious persecution” and emphasized that the government “remains committed to protecting all citizens regardless of faith.”

Trump’s latest warning to Nigeria underscores a renewed push by Washington’s conservative bloc to frame global conflicts through a religious-freedom lens. Whether the rhetoric will translate into actual U.S. military engagement remains uncertain, but analysts agree it has already heightened diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

As the world watches, Nigeria — Africa’s most populous country and largest democracy — finds itself once again at the center of a contentious debate over religion, human rights, and international intervention.

In a related development, Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has cautioned Nigerians against welcoming US President Donald Trump’s recent threat of military intervention in Nigeria, describing it as “perilous” and urging the country to focus on internal reforms instead of relying on foreign powers.

Sowore was reacting to a post by Trump on Saturday, wherein the president threatened to send US forces into Nigeria with “guns-a-blazing” if the country does not stem what he described as the killing of Christians by Islamists.

In a post shared on X early Sunday, Sowore argued that while Trump’s rhetoric about protecting Christians from persecution might appeal to some, history shows US military actions often lead to greater instability.

He wrote, “The latest threat by US President Donald Trump to launch military action in Nigeria, allegedly to protect Christians, may sound appealing to some. Still, history has shown this to be perilous.

“Whether you are Christian, Muslim, animist, or non-religious, no one should celebrate such rhetoric,” he said.

He cited failed interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria as examples, emphasising that Nigeria’s salvation must come from within through accountable leadership that combats corruption and violence.

“The United States and its allies have a long record of military interventions that leave nations more unstable than before.

“They failed to secure peace in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, or Syria, and they won’t bring salvation to Nigeria through bombs or boots on the ground.

“What Nigeria truly needs is not a foreign saviour, but legitimate, accountable leadership, one that protects all citizens, upholds justice, and ends the cycles of corruption and violence that have left the nation broken.”

He added that “Donald Trump does not care about Nigerians, not Christians, Muslims, or anyone else.

“Our deliverance will never come from abroad; it must come from within, through real leadership and national renewal.”

Sowore’s comments come closely after Trump escalated pressure on Nigeria over alleged religious persecution.

In the same vein, the federal government has repeatedly pushed back against US claims. In a statement posted on his official X handle on Saturday, President Bola Tinubu said Nigeria “stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” and that the description of the country as religiously intolerant “does not reflect our national reality.

“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.

“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it,” Tinubu said

Under US law, the CPC designation is reserved for countries where governments engage in or tolerate “particularly severe violations of religious freedom.”

Nigeria was first placed on the list in December 2020 during Trump’s first term, following years of lobbying by religious freedom advocates who cited attacks on Christians in the Middle Belt and North-East.

However, the Biden administration controversially removed Nigeria from the list in November 2021, leading to outcry from US conservatives and advocacy groups.