Tension as Trump Vows Military Action over Christians Genocide in Nigeria, Warns of Aid Cut

U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated tensions with Nigeria by warning that the United States will immediately suspend all aid and may consider military intervention if Nigeria does not halt what he calls the “killing of Christians.”

In a post on his social-media platform, Mr. Trump said he had directed the Pentagon to prepare contingency plans for action and accused “radical Islamists” of carrying out a “mass slaughter” of Christians. He added ominously that Washington “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. At the same time, the president formally designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” on religious-freedom grounds — a label that could pave the way for sanctions and other punitive measures. The call for military planning and the threat to cut aid mark a sharp escalation in U.S. rhetoric toward Abuja, prompting concern among diplomats and regional experts that such unilateral threats risk further destabilising West Africa. Nigeria’s federal authorities swiftly rejected the characterization and reaffirmed their commitment to protect citizens of all faiths. They pointed out that the country’s security crisis — spanning Boko Haram insurgency, ISWAP activity, banditry, and farmer-herder violence — affects Christian and Muslim communities alike, making sectarian attribution overly simplistic. While some U.S. lawmakers and advocacy groups praised the tougher stance on alleged religious persecution, others cautioned that military intervention would carry serious legal, political and humanitarian risks. The White House did not provide details beyond its public declaration; although the Pentagon routinely draws up contingency plans when ordered, officials emphasised that planning is not the same as authorizing armed force. The development is expected to dominate diplomatic exchanges between Washington and Abuja in the coming days as Nigeria seeks clarification and U.S. partners weigh the implications of the new designation and looming aid restrictions.