President Donald Trump has disclosed that the United States’ efforts to stop the killing of Christians in the northern part of Nigeria could include having boots on the ground and air strikes or boots to “completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists”.
Trump has labelled Nigeria a “country of particular concern (CPC)” over claims of Christian genocide in the West African nation.
The US leader also warned the Nigerian government to “better move fast” or he would make good his threat to stop all US aid and assistance to the country.
Trump has also threatened to unleash the department of war on Nigeria in an attack that will be “fast, vicious and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs that attack our cherished Christians”.
Speaking to correspondents before boarding Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said the United States can no longer afford to look the other way.
Asked if he envisaged boots on the ground or air strikes in his bid to save the Christian community in Nigeria, he said “yes, there could be”.
“They are killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria. It’s also bad in other countries, you know that,” Trump added.
“They are killing Christians in very large numbers. We are not going to allow that to happen.”
President Bola Tinubu and some members of his administration have repeatedly rejected US claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria.
On November 1, Tinubu said: “Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.
“Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, has said the Nigerian leader and Trump will meet “in the coming days” to discuss the allegations.
