President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could launch additional military strikes in Nigeria if attacks on Christian communities persist, following a recent US operation against Islamic State militants in the northwest.
Trump made the remarks during a New York Times interview published on January 8, 2026, expressing a preference for a “one-time strike” but readiness for repeated actions if Christians continue to be killed.
The comments reference a Christmas Day 2025 US strike in Sokoto State, which targeted ISIS terrorists and was described by the US as conducted at Nigeria’s request, while Nigerian officials called it a joint counterterrorism effort unrelated to religion.
Trump acknowledged that Muslims are also victims but insisted Christians face disproportionate targeting, dismissing counterarguments from his Africa adviser about higher Muslim casualties from groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP.
This rhetoric builds on Trump’s October 2025 alerts about an “existential threat” to Christianity in Nigeria, accusing authorities of inadequate protection and openly threatening intervention.
Nigeria has repeatedly denied systematic Christian persecution, emphasizing that extremists attack both faiths indiscriminately, with Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar clarifying the Christmas strike’s non-religious basis.
The warning has heightened US-Nigeria tensions, sparking debates on foreign intervention, religious violence, and security cooperation in West Africa.
Trump’s stance aligns with his administration’s focus on protecting persecuted Christians globally, potentially straining bilateral ties amid Nigeria’s sovereignty concerns.
Nigerian officials have not issued an immediate response to the latest threat, but past statements stress joint operations target terrorists regardless of victims’ faith.
Analysts note the strikes’ timing and framing risk politicizing complex insurgencies, where over 90% of Boko Haram/ISWAP victims are reportedly Muslim.
ECOWAS and AU partners monitor developments closely, urging de-escalation while supporting Nigeria’s fight against extremism.
