Trump emphasized that if the violence continues, the U.S. may immediately halt all aid to Nigeria and even send its troops to "put an end to the Islamic terrorists committing these terrible crimes."
He also stated that he has already instructed the Department of Defense to prepare for possible actions.
The reaction to the president's statement was expressed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who noted that "the killings of innocent Christians in Nigeria and in any other countries must be stopped." He added that if the Nigerian government does not begin to protect Christians, the U.S. will be ready to take action against the terrorists committing these acts of violence.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu denied the accusations against his country, stating that "the portrayal of Nigeria as intolerant to other religions is not true." He emphasized that freedom of religion and tolerance are fundamental principles of Nigerian identity.
In March 2025, Congressman Chris Smith urged the State Department to include Nigeria on the list of countries of particular concern. In early October, Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Riley Moore accused the Nigerian government of inaction regarding the mass killings of Christians.
In northern Nigeria, Muslims are predominant, while the south is mainly inhabited by Christians, with both faiths represented almost equally. In the northeast of the country, the terrorist group Boko Haram has been active, whose activities since 2009 have led to more than 35,000 casualties, and over 2 million people have become internally displaced. Additionally, in central Nigeria, there are conflicts between Muslim herders and Christian farmers, which, as reported by the media, is related to the struggle for land resources.
