The United States has issued a warning to Nigeria, following what it calls “systematic persecution and mass killings of Christians.”
U.S. President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House earlier this year, has ordered the Department of War to prepare for “possible military operations in Nigeria.”
Trump declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” accusing the government of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks in the country’s north and middle belt.
He warned that U.S. aid to Nigeria would be halted and that “America will not watch silently while Christians are slaughtered.”
The statement has drawn sharp reactions worldwide. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz announced plans to introduce legislation targeting Nigerian officials accused of enforcing Sharia or blasphemy laws.
“The killing of innocent Christians must end,” said U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, confirming that American forces had been placed on standby.
At home, Nigeria’s government has rejected the allegations, describing them as “based on misinformation and exaggerated narratives.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that Nigeria protects all faiths under its Constitution, while the Presidency urged Washington to “avoid being misled by pressure groups with political motives.”
Rights groups, however, say the evidence is mounting. Killings linked to banditry, communal clashes, and extremist violence continue across several northern states, with victims often targeted along religious lines.
Reports from Amnesty International, Open Doors, and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom all cite Nigeria as one of the most dangerous places for Christians.
The situation is further complicated by ongoing trials such as that of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who faces terrorism-related charges over his movement’s campaign for self-determination in the South-East.
Analysts warn that if diplomacy fails, Washington could use a targeted strike under the pretext of protecting Christians — a move that could destabilize the entire West African region.
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