Donald Trump has threatened military intervention in Nigeria, warning that if the government fails to stop Islamist attacks on Christians, the US may enter the country “guns-a-blazing” and halt all aid.
On a post to his social media platform Truth Social Trump wrote: “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians … the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance … 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.”
Trump further directed the Pentagon to prepare for possible action, adding: “Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
Nigeria said on Sunday it would welcome US help in fighting Islamist insurgents as long as its territorial integrity is respected, responding to threats of military action by Mr Trump.
"We welcome U.S. assistance as long as it recognises our territorial integrity," Daniel Bwala, an adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, told Reuters.
Bwala sought to play down tensions between the two states, despite Trump calling Nigeria a "disgraced country".
"I am sure by the time these two leaders meet and sit, there would be better outcomes in our joint resolve to fight terrorism," he said.
Meanwhile, rapper Nicki Minaj, who has publicly affirmed her Christian faith, praised Trump’s remarks about Nigeria’s Christian community, writing that she “felt a deep sense of gratitude” and stating that "no group should ever be persecuted for practising their religion."
The post stirred heated debate online, with some fans applauding her for raising awareness of religious freedom, and others criticising the move as political alignment.
Islamist insurgents such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have wrought havoc in the country for more than 15 years, killing thousands of people, but their attacks have been largely confined to the northeast of the country, which is majority Muslim.
In central Nigeria there have been frequent clashes between mostly Muslim herders and mainly Christian farmers over access to water and pasture, while in the northwest of the country, gunmen routinely attack villages, kidnapping residents for ransom.
(Additonal contribution from Reuters)