Overview
- President Donald Trump said he instructed the Department of Defense to prepare for potential military action in Nigeria and posted the directive on Truth Social using combative language.
- He warned that all U.S. assistance to Nigeria would be halted immediately if the government continues to allow the killing of Christians.
- The move followed his decision to place Nigeria on the U.S. list of Countries of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act.
- The designation can enable sanctions, reductions in military aid, and travel bans, and Nigeria previously appeared on the list from December 2020 to November 2021.
- Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rejected the label and a top spokesperson called U.S. claims exaggerated, noting that both Christians and Muslims are victims of violence driven by extremist, communal, and resource conflicts.