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Trump directs US military to prepare for possible Nigeria operation
Former US President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he has instructed the Department of War to prepare for "possible action" in Nigeria, citing an alleged failure by the Nigerian government to protect Christian communities from Islamist militant attacks. The move follows weeks of claims in right-wing US circles about a purported genocide against Nigerian Christians, though violence monitors report no evidence that Christians are disproportionately targeted.
Nigerian government responds to intervention threat
Daniel Bwala, an advisor to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, told the BBC that while Nigeria would welcome US assistance against jihadist groups, any military action should be coordinated. "We are a sovereign nation," Bwala stated, emphasizing that extremist violence affects all faiths. Tinubu has repeatedly affirmed Nigeria's commitment to religious tolerance, noting that security challenges span "all faiths and regions."
Trump's social media post warned of a "fast, vicious, and sweet" military strike unless Nigeria intervenes, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed preparations were underway. Bwala, a Christian pastor, downplayed the rhetoric, calling it Trump's "unique way of communicating" and expressing hope for an upcoming meeting between the leaders.
Disputed claims of religious targeting
Trump's declaration of Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern"-a US State Department designation for severe religious freedom violations-cited an "existential threat" to Christians. However, groups like Acled, which tracks political violence, report that jihadist factions such as Boko Haram and ISWAP have primarily killed Muslims over the past decade. Central Nigeria's farmer-herder clashes, often framed along religious lines, involve retaliatory violence across communities, with no evidence of disproportionate Christian casualties.
"The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality."
President Bola Tinubu, in a statement responding to Trump's designation
Domestic pressure and shifting US stance
Trump's threat marks a departure from his past emphasis on avoiding foreign military entanglements. Analysts note growing pressure from conservative US factions to address Nigeria's conflict, though the Nigerian government insists extremist violence transcends religious divides. The US has not provided specific evidence for Trump's claim of "thousands" of Christian deaths, and Nigerian officials urge collaboration over unilateral action.
Background: Decades of insurgency
Jihadist groups have destabilized northeastern Nigeria for over 14 years, with Boko Haram and ISWAP responsible for mass killings, abductions, and displacement. While early attacks targeted state institutions, recent violence has increasingly affected civilians regardless of faith. The US previously supported regional counterterrorism efforts under the Obama and Biden administrations.
