Trump Management Threatens Military Action Against Nigeria Over Alleged christian Persecution
WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump has accused Nigeria of “tolerating the killings of Christians” and raised the possibility of military intervention, escalating tensions with the African nation. The move follows months of lobbying by conservative American politicians who allege a “genocide” is occurring against Christians in Nigeria, claims echoed by Christian and evangelical groups and some far-right European leaders.
The accusations center on ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, where decades of conflict have resulted in thousands of deaths and displacement. While Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu responded on X (formerly twitter) stating, “The characterization of nigeria as a religiously intolerant country dose not reflect our national reality,” Trump’s consideration of military action marks a notable escalation. This echoes Trump’s past rhetoric regarding the treatment of minority groups in other countries, notably his focus on the Afrikaner population in South africa and claims of a “genocide” against them.
Nigeria faces a complex web of security crises.In the northeast, the Boko Haram insurgency, active since 2009, has killed over 40,000 people and displaced more than two million, according to United Nations estimates. Though weakened, Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), remain active. Central Nigeria experiences recurrent, deadly clashes between Fulani herders – predominantly muslim – and farmers, often Christian, typically stemming from competition over land access, though frequently framed as religious conflict. The northwest is plagued by criminal gangs, known locally as “bandits,” who engage in attacks, kidnappings for ransom, and arson.
Donald Trump’s Africa advisor,Massad Boulos,a long-time resident of Nigeria,recently stated that jihadist groups are killing “more muslims than Christians” in the country. Nigeria is almost evenly divided between a predominantly Muslim north and a predominantly Christian south, a demographic dynamic that fuels concerns about religious tensions. The Trump administration previously granted refugee status to Afrikaner leaders, many of whom were associated with South Africa’s apartheid regime, further highlighting a pattern of intervention based on perceived threats to specific groups.
