US President Donald Trump has instructed the military to prepare plans for potential action in Nigeria. This directive follows his assertion that the Nigerian government is not adequately addressing the killing of Christians by Islamist militant groups. Monitoring organizations, however, indicate that there is no evidence suggesting Christians are disproportionately targeted compared to Muslims in Nigeria. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has affirmed religious tolerance in the country, stating that security challenges affect all faiths and regions.
Trump's Directive and Stated Reasons
US President Donald Trump has ordered the US military to prepare plans for potential military action in Nigeria. The stated purpose is to confront Islamist militant groups, with Trump citing the Nigerian government's perceived inaction in halting the killing of Christians. Trump did not specify the killings he referenced, though claims of a "genocide" against Nigerian Christians have been circulating in some US political circles.
In a social media post on Saturday, Trump stated he had instructed the US Department of War to prepare for "possible action." He warned he might deploy the military into Nigeria "guns-a-blazing" unless the Nigerian government intervened, and stated that all US aid to what he called "the now disgraced country" would be cut. Trump added: "If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!"
Earlier, Trump announced he had designated Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern" due to an "existential threat" he claimed was posed to its Christian population. He stated "thousands" had been killed, without providing specific evidence. This designation is used by the US State Department and allows for sanctions against countries "engaged in severe violations of religious freedom."
Nigeria's Response
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has stated that religious tolerance exists within the country. He noted that security challenges impact people "across faiths and regions." Following Trump's designation of Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern," President Tinubu affirmed his government's commitment to collaborating with the US and the international community to safeguard communities of all faiths. He stated, "The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality." The Nigerian government has not issued an official response to the threat of US military action.
Context of Violence in Nigeria
Groups that monitor violence, such as Acled (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project), report no evidence indicating that Christians are being killed more frequently than Muslims in Nigeria. Nigeria's population is roughly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. Jihadist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have been active in north-eastern Nigeria for over a decade, killing thousands of people. According to Acled, most of these victims have been Muslims.
In central Nigeria, frequent clashes occur between mostly Muslim herders and farming groups, often Christian, over access to water and pasture. These conflicts involve deadly cycles of reciprocal attacks, resulting in thousands of casualties. Human rights groups state there is no evidence that Christians have been disproportionately targeted in these clashes.
Trump's Previous Stance
During his tenure, Trump frequently expressed satisfaction with avoiding new US military entanglements and presented himself as a president who sought peace. However, he has increasingly faced calls from some, particularly within conservative political circles, to address the situation in Nigeria.