US President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of Nigeria on Friday night, November 21, branding the country “a disgrace” as he renewed accusations that the government is failing to protect Christians from extremist violence.
Speaking on a conservative radio program, Trump repeated his threat to take potential military action against Islamist militants in Nigeria if the government does not “do more” to stop attacks on Christian communities.
“Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace,” Trump said. “They’re killing people by the thousands. It’s a genocide, and I’m really angry about it. And we pay, you know, we give a lot of subsidies to Nigeria. We’re going to end up stopping.”
Trump’s comments reinforce the administration’s narrative that Christians in Nigeria are being uniquely targeted, a claim that has gained significant traction in right‑wing circles in the US.
This perspective is applied despite Nigeria’s complex history of ethnoreligious conflict in which both Christians and Muslims have suffered mass casualties from armed groups and terrorists.
Pentagon Meeting with Nigeria’s Security Adviser
The President’s broadcast came just one day after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, at the Pentagon. The high‑level meeting was aimed at reinforcing the Trump administration’s claim that Christians in Nigeria are facing “horrific violence.”
Hegseth posted on X that under Trump’s leadership, the Defence Department—referred to by the administration as the “Department of War”—is “working aggressively with Nigeria to end the persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists.”
A subsequent statement from the Defense Department confirmed that Hegseth and Ribadu discussed “tangible progress” on curbing violence against Christians and combating jihadist groups operating in West Africa.
Nigeria’s Complex Security Situation
Nigeria has had years of violence from groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), whose attacks have devastated communities across the North‑East.
While Christian villages have been repeatedly targeted, Muslim communities have also suffered mass killings, kidnappings, and displacement. Moderate Muslims who do not subscribe to their extremist ideologies are considered objects of attacks as well.
Security experts warn that framing the crisis solely as anti‑Christian persecution risks oversimplifying Nigeria’s ethnoreligious conflicts, which are often intertwined with land disputes, banditry, and political instability.
Global organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have documented widespread abuses affecting both faith groups. They stress that any international response must address the broader drivers of insecurity, not just religious identity.
Trump’s remarks, however, signal a hardening US position and create anxieties about whether Washington could pursue unilateral military action in this country.
For Nigeria, the comments add pressure on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to show quick and tangible progress in protecting civilians and restoring confidence in the country’s security apparatus.
Rate, Like 👍, Comment 💬, Share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
