United States President Donald Trump has warned that the US could carry out further military strikes in Nigeria if violence, particularly against Christians, continues.
In an interview published on Thursday, Trump said a recent US military operation against Islamic State-linked militants in northwest Nigeria was intended to send a strong message but may not be a one-off action.
“I’d love to make it a one-time strike,” Trump said, adding that if the killings persist, “it will be a many-time strike.”
The US operation, carried out on December 25, targeted extremist fighters operating in Nigeria’s northwest. Washington said the strike was conducted at the request of the Nigerian government and was aimed at weakening terrorist groups responsible for deadly attacks on civilians.
Trump described the action as a response to repeated killings blamed on extremist groups, remarks that have since generated debate over the religious framing of Nigeria’s security crisis.
When asked about claims by US officials that militant groups in Nigeria have killed more Muslims than Christians, Trump acknowledged that Muslims have also been victims but insisted that Christians were being targeted disproportionately.
“I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians,” he said.
The Federal Government has rejected allegations of religious genocide, stressing that insurgent and criminal groups across the country target communities without regard to faith. Authorities have repeatedly stated that both Christians and Muslims have suffered from terrorism, banditry and communal violence.
Nigeria has continued to emphasise cooperation with international partners in tackling insecurity, while maintaining that the country’s challenges are complex and driven by a mix of terrorism, organised crime and local conflicts rather than religion alone.
