US President Donald Trump has ignited yet another controversy by directing the Pentagon to commence preparations for possible military intervention in Nigeria, following his condemnation of the Nigerian government for its inability to safeguard its Christian population.
This directive for military action was issued just a day after Trump stated that Christians in Nigeria are enduring persecution.
“Should the Nigerian Government persist in permitting the slaughter of Christians, the United States will promptly cease all aid and support to Nigeria, and may very well engage in military action against that now disreputable nation, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to eradicate the Islamic Terrorists responsible for these heinous acts,” Trump declared on social media. “I am officially instructing our Department of War to ready itself for potential action. If we proceed with an attack, it will be swift, brutal, and decisive, akin to the assaults perpetrated by the terrorist thugs against our BELOVED Christians!”
This warning was issued shortly after Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, earlier on Saturday, countered Trump’s allegations. In a statement on social media, Tinubu asserted that the portrayal of Nigeria as a nation lacking religious tolerance does not accurately represent the reality of the country.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been fundamental aspects of our shared identity and will always remain so,” Tinubu emphasized. “Nigeria stands against religious persecution and does not endorse it. Our nation is equipped with constitutional protections to ensure the rights of citizens of all faiths.”
Trump’s assertion regarding the persecution of Christians in Nigeria
On Friday, Trump remarked, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria” and “radical Islamists are accountable for this widespread slaughter.” The American leader’s comments on this issue followed a week after US Senator Ted Cruz urged Congress to classify Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, as a violator of religious freedom, citing allegations of “mass murder of Christians.”
Nigeria is home to a population of 220 million individuals, evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. The nation has been grappling with insecurity from multiple sources, including the Boko Haram extremist organization, which aims to impose its radical interpretation of Islamic law. Notably, this group has also targeted the Muslim community within the country, claiming that they are “not Muslim enough”.
The assaults that have occurred in Nigeria have been driven by various motives. Some are religiously motivated, affecting both Christians and Muslims, while others stem from conflicts between farmers and herders over scarce resources, communal disputes, secessionist movements, and ethnic confrontations.
Although Christians are frequently among the most affected, analysts indicate that the majority of victims of armed groups are Muslims, particularly in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim northern region, where most attacks take place. Both Christian and Muslim factions within the country have often accused each other of “genocide” during these religiously charged assaults.
The Nigerian government has consistently dismissed Cruz’s assertions, which have been a topic of discussion among the populace. “There is no systematic, intentional effort by the Nigerian government or any significant group to target a specific religion,” stated Information Minister Idris Muhammed in an interview with The Associated Press.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, a representative for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to safeguarding citizens of all faiths. “The Federal Government of Nigeria will persist in defending all citizens, regardless of race, creed, or religion,” Ebienfa declared in a statement on Saturday. “Similar to America, Nigeria must embrace the diversity that constitutes our greatest strength.”
