By Ireti Asemota.
In response to orders from President Donald Trump over what the U.S. government refers to as the “mass massacre of Christians” in Nigeria, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has said his department is getting ready for possible military action in the nation.
Hegseth made the comments on Saturday in response to a post on Truth Social by President Trump, in which the former president said that the Nigerian government was “turning a blind eye” to the Islamist extremist organizations’ frequent attacks on Christians. Trump said in the article that the US may halt all funding to Nigeria and think about launching a military campaign against the organizations behind the murders. As Trump wrote:
“The United States will immediately cease all aid and support to Nigeria and may take military action to destroy the Islamic terrorists responsible for these atrocities if the Nigerian government continues to permit the slaughter of Christians.”
He went on to say:
“I’m giving the Department of War instructions to get ready for any action. If something is done to stop the attacks on our Christian communities, it will be done quickly and forcefully. Hegseth responded to the president’s message by confirming that preliminary preparations for a possible military response had been initiated by the U.S. Department of War.
Hegseth said on X (previously Twitter) that “indeed, the murdering of innocent Christians in Nigeria – and anywhere — must halt now.”
“The Department of War is getting ready to act. The United States will either take action against the organizations perpetrating these crimes or the Nigerian government will defend Christians. Following President Trump’s recent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act due to alleged Christian persecution in the nation, the statement was made. President Bola Tinubu responded by dismissing the allegations and declaring that Nigeria is still dedicated to defending the liberties and rights of all faith communities. Tinubu characterized the accusations as “unfounded and politically driven,” asserting that “Nigeria is a democracy founded on constitutional protections of freedom of religion and belief.”
Observers have pointed out that the rising rhetoric might exacerbate tensions between the US and Nigeria, which could have an impact on the two nations’ continued security cooperation and diplomatic ties.
