• U.S. War Secretary says military preparing for “possible action” in Nigeria after Trump’s warning.
• Trump had warned Tinubu to stop killings of Christians or face “guns-a-blazing” response
• Nigeria rejects claim of Christian genocide, insists nation remains a democracy
Following President Donald Trump’s directive over alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria, The United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, has confirmed that his department is preparing for possible military action in the country.
Hegseth made the statement on Saturday, shortly after Trump issued a stern warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through a post on his Truth Social platform, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to curb the “killing of innocent Christians.”
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Trump had said:“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and 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.”
He added: “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!”
Reacting on X (formerly Twitter), Hegseth confirmed receipt of Trump’s directive and echoed the former president’s position, writing:“Yes sir. The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and anywhere must end immediately.
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The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
Nigeria Responds to U.S. Threat
The statement came a day after Trump redesignated Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’, citing alleged Christian genocide by radical Islamist groups in parts of the country.
However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rejected Trump’s classification, insisting that Nigeria remains a democracy guided by constitutional freedoms of religion and belief.
“The West African nation remains committed to protecting all citizens regardless of faith,” the presidency said in reaction to the comments.
