WASHINGTON (November 2, 2025) — President Donald Trump said he has instructed the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria, accusing the West African nation of failing to stop the killing of Christians by extremist groups.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump warned that the United States would “immediately stop all aid and assistance” to Nigeria if the attacks continue, vowing that the U.S. military would move in “guns-a-blazing” to “completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists” responsible.

The comments mark a sharp escalation in Trump’s rhetoric toward Nigeria, a longtime U.S. security partner and Africa’s most populous country. While U.S. officials did not confirm any specific operational orders, defense analysts said Trump’s statement signals a potential shift in Washington’s engagement in West Africa.

The Nigerian government swiftly rejected Trump’s accusations, describing his remarks as “misinformed and reckless.” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s office said in a statement that Nigeria “remains firmly committed to religious freedom” and that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of violence.

“Any attempt to portray Nigeria as a country that persecutes Christians is not only false but dangerous,” the statement read.

Nigeria has battled Islamist insurgents such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) for over a decade, alongside deadly clashes between herders and farmers that often take on ethnic and religious dimensions. Experts note that while many attacks have targeted Christian communities, Muslim civilians have also suffered extensive casualties.

Trump’s threat follows his earlier decision to reinstate Nigeria on the U.S. list of “countries of particular concern” for religious-freedom violations, a designation that can trigger sanctions or the suspension of aid.

Human rights groups and foreign-policy experts warned that direct U.S. military involvement in Nigeria would risk destabilizing the region. “This kind of language, without coordination or verification, can inflame tensions and undermine counterterrorism efforts,” said one African security analyst.

As of Sunday, the Pentagon had not released any statement confirming whether it had received formal directives to act on the president’s instruction.

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Dan Mitchell

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