By A Correspondent

Washington D.C. – United States President Donald Trump has threatened to launch military strikes against Nigeria over what he described as “horrible atrocities” being committed against Christians in the country.

In a fiery post on his Truth Social account on Saturday, President Trump said he had directed the newly renamed Department of War to “prepare for possible action” should the Nigerian government fail to curb alleged anti-Christian violence.

“The United States 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. “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! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”

He also announced that all US assistance to Nigeria would be halted “if the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians.”

The Nigerian government has not yet issued a formal response to the American president’s remarks. However, the comments come just a day after Trump revealed that Nigeria would be added to the State Department’s list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” which tracks nations accused of religious persecution.

In recent months, conservative lawmakers and right-wing commentators in the US have accused Nigeria’s government of turning a blind eye to what they term a “Christian genocide.”

However, human rights organizations and regional experts have pushed back against such claims, arguing that the country’s violence stems from complex ethnic, political, and economic factors—not a targeted campaign against Christians.

Ebenezer Obadare, a senior fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said while Trump was correct to highlight the government’s weak response to extremist groups such as Boko Haram, his approach was dangerously misguided.

“Those facing persecution in Nigeria include not just Christians, but Muslims, non-Christians, agnostics—everybody in between,” Obadare explained. “This is precisely the moment when Nigeria needs assistance, especially military assistance. The wrong thing to do is to invade Nigeria and override the authority of the Nigerian government. Doing that will be counterproductive.”

Earlier in the day, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued a statement reaffirming his administration’s commitment to security and national unity.

“The Nigerian government continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions,” Tinubu said.

Trump’s threats have drawn both alarm and praise across international circles, with critics warning that military action could destabilize one of Africa’s largest democracies, while supporters hailed the move as a bold stand against religious persecution.