Trump Puts Pentagon on standby to Strike Nigeria over Alleged Christian Persecution

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he had ordered the Pentagon to prepare for possible action against Nigeria, accusing the government in Abuja of failing to protect Christians in what he called an “unprecedented wave of persecution.”

The move, which Trump described as a “necessary defence of faith and freedom,” is expected to heighten diplomatic tensions between Washington and Africa’s most populous nation.

He warned that US aid to Nigeria could be cut if the government does not act to stop what he termed “mass killings” of Christians.

Nigeria swiftly rejected Trump’s claims, saying there was no campaign of religious persecution in the country.

Officials in Abuja said violence across several regions was largely driven by banditry and extremist groups, not state complicity.

The government added that it would not tolerate threats to its sovereignty.

Analysts said Trump’s order to put the Pentagon on standby marks a rare and aggressive posture toward an African nation, raising fears of deepening mistrust between the two countries.

Washington has long cooperated with Nigeria on counterterrorism, security training and intelligence sharing, particularly in the fight against Islamist insurgents in the north.

The backdrop of Trump’s move is Nigeria’s long battle with Boko Haram, an extremist group that began as a radical Islamic movement in 2002 before morphing into one of Africa’s deadliest insurgencies.

The group’s violent campaign, which escalated after the killing of its founder Mohammed Yusuf in 2009, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions across Nigeria and its neighbours.

Trump’s growing involvement in African affairs follows a pattern of outspoken remarks about the continent.

Earlier this year, he accused South Africa of allowing the killing of white farmers, a claim that drew widespread criticism from African governments.

While Trump has not detailed what form US action against Nigeria might take, officials close to the Pentagon said any decision would require careful coordination to avoid undermining regional stability.

Nigerian authorities, meanwhile, said they would welcome genuine support to combat terrorism but would resist any interference that undermines national independence.

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