President Donald Trump on Saturday, November 1, instructed the US Department of War to prepare for possible action in Nigeria over the alleged killing of Christians.
Trump gave the directive shortly after President Bola Tinubu pushed back against the claim of the killing of Christians in his country.
President Tinubu had faulted the US president, saying the characterisation of Nigeria as a religiously intolerant country does not reflect its national identity.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” President Tinubu said in a social media statement.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.”
President Trump had, in a post on Social Truth, classified Nigeria as a CPC over the alleged killing of Christians in the most populous West African nation.
In his latest action, the US leader threatened to attack Nigeria to wipe out the Islamic terrorists committing the atrocities against Christians. He also said the US would stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, which he described as a “disgraced country.”
He said, “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, 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. 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!”
China opposes Trump, backs Nigeria
However, on November 4, China declared its opposition to US threats of sanctions or military actions against Nigeria over allegations of mass slaughter of Christians.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made the declaration at a press conference in Beijing.
“As Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly supports the Nigerian government in leading its people on the development path suited to its national conditions. China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, and threatening other countries with sanctions and force,” Ms Ning said, according to the transcript of the interview posted on the Chinese government’s website.
China is a major economic rival to the US.
But reacting to China’s position, a US lawmaker, Riley Moore, said Beijing would not dictate America’s foreign policy.
In a post shared on his X handle on Tuesday, Moore expressed support for US President Donald Trump’s position on defending Christians in Nigeria.
He stated that the US had a moral responsibility to defend religious freedom.
“President Trump is absolutely right to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering horrific persecution, and even martyrdom, for their faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” Moore wrote.
US drafts military plan against Nigeria
Meanwhile, in an apparent heed to President Trump’s directive, the US military has reportedly submitted contingency plans for potential strikes on Nigeria.
The New York Times reports that the US Africa Command has drawn up and sent its options to the Department of War this week upon the request of Secretary Pete Hegseth.
It involves sending an aircraft carrier group to the Gulf of Guinea, off the Nigerian coast, and using fighter jets or long-range bombers to strike targets deep inside northern Nigeria.
For the medium option, the command suggested using drone strikes against militant camps, bases, convoys, and vehicles in northern Nigeria.
