United States President Donald Trump has intensified threats of force against Nigeria, saying he would not rule out air strikes or boots on the ground to halt what he called the targeted killing of Christians.
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid assistance to Nigeria,” he said in a recorded message.
“We are going to do things to Nigerians that Nigeria is not going to be happy about 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.”
Trump announced on October 31 that he had redesignated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern under U.S. religious-freedom rules.
That label opens the door to sanctions, aid suspension, and other penalties if the U.S. chooses. He also urged congressional scrutiny and asked members of the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the alleged killings.
What The U.S. Decision Means — and What It Does Not
The Country of Particular Concern tag is a tool under U.S. law to spotlight grave violations of religious freedom. It does not automatically trigger military intervention.
Still, Trump’s language — telling the U.S. Department of War to “prepare for possible actions” and promising strikes that would be “vicious and sweet” — raised alarm in diplomatic circles.
Nigeria’s government has rejected the designation as misleading. Abuja says its security challenges are driven by terrorism and criminality, not state-led religious persecution, and it has pointed to operations and arrests as proof of action against violent groups.
Global partners and regional bodies have urged calm and called for fact-based engagement.
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