President Donald Trump on Saturday said he had ordered the U.S. Department of War to prepare for potential military operations in Nigeria, citing what he described as the “mass killing of Christians” in the West African nation.
Trump also announced that the United States would immediately halt all aid and assistance to Nigeria if the government in Abuja fails to act against what he called “Islamic terrorists” responsible for the violence.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet — just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians.”
The announcement followed Trump’s Friday decision to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) — a U.S. government classification for nations engaged in severe violations of religious freedom.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” Trump wrote. “Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.”
The CPC list, maintained by the U.S. State Department, includes China, Russia, Pakistan, North Korea, and Myanmar, among others. The designation opens the door for sanctions and other punitive measures.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed his department was preparing for possible action, emphasizing that the killings of Christians in Nigeria and elsewhere “must immediately come to an end.”
“Either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists committing these atrocities,” Hegseth said in a statement posted on X.
The remarks signal one of the most forceful U.S. warnings yet toward Nigeria, a key U.S. security partner in Africa.
Several U.S. lawmakers voiced support for Trump’s stance. Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) praised the president’s resolve, warning that “the days of the U.S. looking the other way are over.”
“President Trump has been clear — do not test his resolve,” Moore said. “We will not allow the gates of hell to prevail against the faithful.”
Meanwhile, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) announced plans to advance legislation aimed at addressing the enforcement of Sharia and blasphemy laws in Nigeria, following Trump’s redesignation of the country.
“I have fought for years to counter the slaughter and persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” Cruz said in a statement. “My legislation will impose sanctions and accountability measures on officials who enforce or support blasphemy and Sharia laws.”
Human rights organizations have long criticized Nigeria’s blasphemy laws, which have in some cases led to mob killings or death sentences handed down by religious courts.
Analysts warn that Trump’s order — if acted upon militarily — could heighten tensions with Nigeria’s government, which has repeatedly denied claims of official complicity in sectarian violence.
As of Saturday night, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not issued an official response to Trump’s statements.
The White House said further details on the scope of potential U.S. action would be released after “security consultations” with defense and intelligence officials.
