Tensions rose sharply in Nigeria after US President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action. His comments linked the threat to alleged Christian persecution in the country. On Saturday, Trump wrote that the United States would “immediately stop all aid” and might “go in guns blazing” to eliminate Islamist militants attacking Christians. He said the military response would be “fast, vicious, and sweet.”
The statement alarmed officials in Abuja, who rejected the idea of foreign intervention. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu responded on Sunday, saying his government was open to discussions with Washington about counterterrorism, but insisted that any cooperation must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Nigeria Pushes Back Against U.S. Claims
Tinubu said on X that branding Nigeria as religiously intolerant misrepresents its reality. His spokesperson, Daniel Bwala, suggested that Trump’s threat might serve as a negotiation tactic, noting that the two nations already collaborate on intelligence and defense.
Amnesty International reported in May that jihadist attacks had killed more than 10,000 people since Tinubu took office. Analysts, however, argue that Nigeria’s crisis is not simply a Christian-versus-Muslim conflict. While Christians have suffered greatly, many Muslim civilians in the north also remain frequent victims of extremist violence. Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo rejected that framing, claiming the government downplays a deliberate campaign of Christian persecution. Advocacy groups, including Open Doors and International Christian Concern, recorded over 7,000 Christian deaths in 2025.
A resurfaced 2014 statement by Tinubu criticizing former president Goodluck Jonathan for failing to protect churches reignited debate as Trump’s comments circulated over the weekend.
Fears Grow Over U.S. Motives and Resource Interests
Trump’s threat followed calls by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz to label Nigeria a violator of religious freedom. The proposal stirred fierce argument inside Nigeria, where some citizens, like broadcaster Cyril Abaku, support foreign assistance to combat terrorism. “If help keeps our people safe, we should welcome it,” Abaku said. “Terrorism is a global problem, and outside support could make a difference.”
Yet many Nigerians suspect deeper motives. Analysts warn that Trump’s remarks may relate to Nigeria’s growing importance in rare earth minerals—vital for defense technologies, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. The northeast, where insurgents remain active, contains rich deposits of lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, lanthanum, neodymium, and praseodymium.
Human rights advocate Omoyele Sowore dismissed the idea of U.S. intervention entirely. “Nigeria doesn’t need a foreign saviour,” he said. “It needs honest leadership that protects every citizen and breaks the cycle of corruption and violence.”
The United States listed Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” in 2020 over religious freedom violations, but that designation did not specifically mention Christian persecution.
