United States President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric against the Nigerian government, renewing his accusation of a state-sanctioned “Christian genocide” and threatening both the withdrawal of US aid and potential military intervention to halt the violence.
Speaking on FOX News, President Trump branded Nigeria “a disgrace” and stated he was “really angry” about the killing of “thousands of Christians,” repeating his earlier threat to send US forces in “guns-a-blazing” if the government does not “do more” to stop the attacks.
Trump’s renewed outburst follows a devastating series of mass casualty attacks and kidnappings across Nigeria in recent days, incidents that appear to have severely diminished the impact of the Nigerian government’s recent diplomatic outreach to Washington.
Key attacks cited include:
Kebbi State: The mass abduction of 315 schoolgirls from Government Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School, Maga, where the vice principal was killed. Governor Nasir Idris later expressed concern over the military’s withdrawal from the school shortly before the attack and called for a probe.
Niger State: An attack by terrorists on St Mary’s Catholic Secondary and Primary School, Papiry, where no fewer than 50 students were abducted.
Kwara State: The killing of worshippers and the kidnap of 38 others from Christ Apostolic Church in Ekuru.
These ugly developments have severely heightened pressure on the Nigerian government after President Trump had earlier designated Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) over the genocide claims.
In the past few days, the Nigerian government, led by a delegation headed by National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu, dispatched officials to the United States to counter the narrative of religious persecution.
Ribadu met with US Secretary of War, Peter Hegseth, members of the US Congress, and other American stakeholders in a strategic session aimed at strengthening collaboration in combating terrorism and banditry.
However, the recent surge in attacks suggests these efforts have been insufficient to persuade the Trump administration, leading to the President’s renewed call for decisive action, which many Nigerians view as reflecting government lethargy in handling the crisis.
The situation has created a profound diplomatic crisis, pitting Nigeria’s claim that the violence is rooted in complex criminality affecting all faiths against Washington’s insistence on a targeted persecution of Christians.
The growing violence and the failure of government protection measures are driving the US decision-makers to support President Trump’s position, as seen in this video regarding the situation in the country. Fox News on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
