Washington/Lagos — U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that American military forces could be deployed to Nigeria, or that air strikes could be carried out, to stop what he described as the large-scale killing of Christians in Africa’s most populous country.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said: “Could be. I mean, other things. I envisage a lot of things. They’re killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria … They’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen.”
Trump’s remarks followed a prior warning on Saturday in which he threatened military action if Nigeria did not take decisive steps to curb the violence. The U.S. president’s comments come amid growing concerns over religious persecution in the country.
This announcement coincides with Nigeria’s re-addition to the U.S. “Countries of Particular Concern” list, which highlights nations that have violated religious freedoms. Other countries on the list include China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan.
The statements are likely to heighten tensions between Washington and Abuja. Nigeria has previously welcomed U.S. support in counterterrorism operations, particularly against Islamist insurgents, but insists that any assistance must respect its sovereignty.
The issue of religious violence in Nigeria has been a longstanding concern, particularly in the central and northern regions, where clashes between communities and militant groups have repeatedly resulted in civilian deaths. Trump’s remarks mark one of the most direct U.S. political interventions on Nigeria’s internal security in recent years.
Trump made the comments while returning to Washington after a weekend at his Florida vacation home.
Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Jasper Ward; Editing by Nia Williams.
Source: Reuters
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Reporting by Naija247news in Lagos, Nigeria.
