Overview
- Trump said on Truth Social he directed the Pentagon to prepare for a potential operation and warned any strike would be swift and brutal.
- The president threatened to halt all U.S. assistance to Nigeria if Abuja fails to stop the reported killing of Christians.
- The U.S. placed Nigeria on the ‘Country of Particular Concern’ list for religious-freedom violations, a move that can open the door to sanctions or aid restrictions.
- Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Foreign Ministry dismissed claims of genocide and pledged to protect citizens of every faith.
- Reporters and analysts note the White House has provided no public evidence for the claim that thousands of Christians have been killed, emphasizing Nigeria’s multifaceted violence affecting Christians and Muslims.