Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of War, has stated that his department is preparing for potential military intervention if the Nigerian government fails to stop the ongoing killing of Christians in the country.
Hegseth made the comment Saturday in reaction to a Truth Social post by former US President Donald Trump, who accused the Nigerian government of ignoring attacks on Christians.
Trump wrote, “If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA 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!”
Responding via his official X account, Hegseth wrote, “Yes sir. The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria — and anywhere — must end immediately.”
The latest threat follows Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over what he described as a Christian genocide, blaming radical Islamist groups for a “mass slaughter” of believers.
President Bola Tinubu has rejected the designation, asserting that Nigeria is a democratic nation built on constitutional principles of religious freedom and tolerance.
The Presidency has announced that President Tinubu will soon meet with Donald Trump to address the claims. Tinubu’s aide, Daniel Bwala, confirmed the planned meeting via his X handle.
If Trump’s threat materializes, it would mark the first instance of a foreign military invading Nigeria in its more than 65 years of independence
