Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a stark statement that has reignited debate over international security policy and Nigeria’s domestic challenges, U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could conduct further military strikes in Nigeria if attacks on Christian communities continue. The comments, made in a recent interview with The New York Times and widely reported on 8–9 January 2026, reflect a hardening U.S. posture following an earlier military operation conducted at the end of last year.
Trump’s remarks come in the context of evolving U.S. intervention in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against militant groups, including factions associated with the Islamic State. On Christmas Day 2025, the United States carried out airstrikes against Islamic State–linked militants in northwest Nigeria, an operation Trump described as targeting fighters responsible for violent attacks on civilians. The U.S. Africa Command said the strikes were coordinated with Nigerian authorities and aimed at disrupting extremist camps in the region.
Asked about the possibility of broader or repeated action, Trump told the newspaper that while he would “love to make it a one‑time strike,” continued killings of Christians in Nigeria could prompt a series of “many‑time strikes.” He reiterated concerns about the scale of violence faced by Christian communities, framing further military action as contingent upon whether such attacks persist. In the interview, he acknowledged that Muslims were also victims of violence in Nigeria, but maintained that Christian communities were disproportionately affected.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected narratives suggesting systematic persecution of Christians, pointing out that armed groups and insurgent movements have targeted civilians of all faiths across diverse regions of the country. Authorities in Abuja have emphasised that violence by groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State–linked factions reflects a broader security crisis rather than a campaign against a specific religious group.
Trump’s warning has raised questions about the future of U.S.–Nigeria security cooperation and the potential implications for Nigerian sovereignty. Previous public statements by Trump and some U.S. advisers have included strong rhetoric on religious violence, including designating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over religious freedom issues — a designation that carries political weight but is separate from direct military engagement.
Observers note that any prospect of expanded foreign military action on Nigerian soil is deeply sensitive and would require cooperation between the two governments to avoid diplomatic backlash. Nigeria’s strategic position in West Africa and its complex internal security environment — marked by insurgency, banditry and communal conflict — make external interventions a topic of intense scrutiny among policymakers and civil society groups alike.
At the same time, voices within the United States reacting to Trump’s stance have been divided. Some conservative commentators and advocacy groups have welcomed a more aggressive approach to protecting vulnerable communities, while critics argue that framing Nigeria’s multifaceted security issues primarily through a religious lens risks oversimplifying the challenges and could undermine cooperative counterterrorism efforts.
As discussions over additional action continue, both nations appear set to navigate a delicate balance between combating extremist violence and preserving diplomatic and security cooperation in a region where violence affects diverse populations across ethnic and religious lines.
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