United States President Donald Trump has warned that the US may carry out additional military strikes in Nigeria if violence against Christians continues, signalling a tougher stance on extremist attacks in the country.
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, Trump was asked whether the December 25 US military strike against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria was the beginning of a sustained campaign. His response suggested that further action remains on the table.
“I’d love to make it a one-time strike… but if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.”
The airstrike, which the US government said was conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities, targeted Islamic State-linked fighters and drew global attention after it was carried out on Christmas Day.
Trump described the operation as a response to what he portrayed as persistent attacks on Christians by extremist groups in Nigeria. His comments have since sparked debate over the motivations and framing of the US intervention.
When questioned about remarks by his senior Africa adviser—who noted that militant groups such as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram have killed more Muslims than Christians—Trump acknowledged that Muslims have also been victims of the violence.
“I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians,” he said.
Nigeria’s Federal Government has pushed back against claims of a targeted genocide against Christians, stressing that armed groups operating in the country’s north often act with mixed motives and have attacked both Muslim and Christian communities.
Officials have reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to working with international partners on counter-terrorism while maintaining that violence against any group, regardless of religion, is unacceptable.
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