The United States government has signaled that it is preparing for potential military action in Nigeria, citing reports of attacks against Christian communities in the country.
U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, confirmed the stance on Saturday, following a series of statements by former President Donald Trump threatening intervention.
In a social media post on X, Hegseth emphasised that the Department of War is monitoring the situation closely and will act if the Nigerian government fails to protect its citizens.
“The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and anywhere must end immediately. Either the Nigerian government steps up to safeguard its people, or the U.S. will take decisive action against those responsible,” he wrote.
President had previously warned that the United States could launch military operations in Nigeria and indicated that American assistance to the West African nation could be cut off if violence against Christians continues.
“We may very well enter the country to neutralise the Islamic terrorists committing these atrocities,” Trump wrote, without specifying which groups or incidents he was referring to.
This development comes after Nigeria was placed on the U.S. Department of State’s list of Countries of Particular Concern, a designation used to identify nations where religious persecution is considered severe.
Trump accused radical Islamist groups of orchestrating what he described as a “mass slaughter” of Christians, remarks that were strongly rejected by Nigerian authorities.
President Bola Tinubu dismissed the labeling of Nigeria as inaccurate, stressing that the country remained a democratic state guided by constitutional protections for freedom of religion and belief.
Officials in Abuja have yet to issue a formal response to the U.S. military statements.
The situation has sparked concern among international observers, as U.S. threats of intervention in sovereign nations carry serious geopolitical implications.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly called for protection of vulnerable communities in Nigeria, but the prospect of a direct military response by a foreign power is unprecedented in the country’s recent history.
The statement by Hegseth reflects a broader pattern of U.S. engagement in global human rights issues, particularly where religious persecution is alleged.
