U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could launch additional military strikes in Nigeria if attacks on Christian communities continue, intensifying scrutiny of the security situation in Africa’s most populous nation. Trump made the remarks in an interview with The New York Times, published Thursday, following a U.S. airstrike in Nigeria on Christmas Day.
The Christmas Day strike, conducted by U.S. forces in northwest Nigeria, targeted Islamic State militants at the request of the Nigerian government. Nigerian authorities emphasised that the operation focused solely on “terrorists” and had no religious intent, highlighting that the mission was aimed at combating insurgency rather than targeting any faith group.
Speaking to CNBC, Trump acknowledged that Muslims were also victims of attacks but insisted that Christians were the primary targets. “I think that Muslims are also being killed in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians,” he said, warning that continued violence against Christian communities could prompt further U.S. military action.
Trump had previously raised concerns in October, describing Christianity in Nigeria as facing an “existential threat” and suggesting that U.S. intervention might be necessary due to what he perceives as the Nigerian government’s failure to protect Christian populations. He added, “I’d love to make it a one-time strike … But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.”
Nigeria, with over 230 million residents, is roughly split between Christians, mostly in the south, and Muslims, primarily in the north. The country faces ongoing security challenges, including insurgent attacks, kidnappings, and banditry, particularly in northern regions.
Nigerian officials have consistently rejected claims of systematic persecution of Christians, stressing that extremist groups have attacked both Muslims and Christians, and that the violence is driven by terrorism and criminality rather than religion. Authorities have expressed willingness to cooperate with the U.S. in fighting militants, while cautioning against framing the crisis as a purely religious issue.
Experts note that both Christian and Muslim communities continue to face attacks from insurgents, highlighting the broader security crisis in Nigeria. Nigerian authorities have urged international partners to focus on combating terrorism and criminal networks rather than portraying the conflict as one-sided.
