Trump orders pentagon to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria over christian killings

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he has instructed the Pentagon to prepare for a possible military operation in Nigeria, accusing the Nigerian government of ignoring the killings of Christians by armed groups. In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump warned that if Nigeria’s government “continues to allow the killing of Christians,” the United States would “immediately halt all aid and assistance” to the country and “may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.” “I am hereby

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he has instructed the Pentagon to prepare for a possible military operation in Nigeria, accusing the Nigerian government of ignoring the killings of Christians by armed groups. In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump warned that if Nigeria’s government “continues to allow the killing of Christians,” the United States would “immediately halt all aid and assistance” to the country and “may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.” “I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action,” he wrote. Trump added: "If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!" Earlier, Trump announced that he had designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing what he called an “existential threat” to its Christian population. He claimed that “thousands” of Christians had been killed, though he did not provide evidence. The designation, used by the U.S. State Department, allows Washington to impose sanctions on countries accused of “severe violations of religious freedom.” In response, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said his government remains committed to working with the United States and the international community to protect communities of all faiths. “The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu said in a statement. Armed groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have carried out attacks in northeastern Nigeria for more than a decade, killing thousands.