U.S. poised for military action against Nigeria over killings of Christians

Donald Trump. Photo: DW

On November 1, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had instructed the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria to eliminate Islamist terrorists responsible for the mass killings of Christians.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and 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,” Trump wrote on his social network Truth Social.

The President warned that if an attack takes place, it will be “fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the President’s order, posting on X: “Yes, sir.” “The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria – and anywhere else – must stop immediately. The Department of War is preparing to act. Either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we will destroy the Islamic terrorists committing these terrible atrocities,” the Defense Secretary declared.

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated that crimes against Christians are fueled by radical Islamist ideology. She thanked Donald Trump for taking action and drawing attention to this mass murder and violence committed against innocent Nigerians simply because they are Christians. "These killers are driven by the same radical Islamist ideology that fuels jihadist terrorists who continue to threaten security, safety, and freedom,” said the Director of National Intelligence.

According to the international human rights organization Open Doors, about 69% of all Christians killed worldwide die in Nigeria.

The Nigerian government rejected Trump’s accusations. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said that describing Nigeria as a country of religious intolerance does not reflect reality. “Freedom of religion and tolerance have been a core principle of our collective identity and will always remain so. Nigeria stands firmly against religious persecution and does not condone it,” the Nigerian leader assured.

Earlier, President Zelensky likewise claimed that “believers, their faith, their aspirations, and their churches have never been restricted by anyone.” “On the contrary, the state has always supported them, and they are very free,” Zelensky said about the UOC.

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