United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed that the Department of War is making preparations for potential military action in Nigeria.
This readiness follows growing reports of attacks targeting Christians in the West African nation.
Hegseth made his declaration yesterday in a post on X, responding directly to earlier comments from President Donald Trump that threatened military intervention regarding the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
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Hegseth wrote: “Yes sir. The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria — and anywhere — must end immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
Trump earlier issued a warning of possible strikes in Nigeria over purported anti-Christian violence, stating he had instructed the recently renamed Department of War to “prepare for possible action.”
In his own social media post on Saturday, Trump threatened to “immediately cut off all assistance” to Nigeria “if the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians.”
Trump further stated that the US: “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 concluded his threat with a clear ultimatum to the Nigerian government: “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!”
The threat of military action follows President Trump’s announcement on Friday that Nigeria would be added to the Department of State’s list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” a designation used to monitor religious persecution globally.
Trump attributed the alleged “mass slaughter” of Christians in Nigeria to radical Islamists.
However, President Bola Tinubu has rejected the labelling of Nigeria, affirming that the West African nation is a democracy anchored on constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and belief.
The New Daily Prime earlier reported that Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications to Tinubu, confirmed an upcoming meeting between his principal and Trump.
In a statement posted on his X page on Sunday, Bwala said the meeting is scheduled to take place soon at either the Nigerian State House or the White House.
He said the primary focus of the high-level talks is expected to be the escalating friction that arose after Trump placed Nigeria on a U.S. State Department watch list, citing alleged violations of religious freedom.
