The United States’ top defense-aligned official, Pete Hegseth, and President Donald Trump have signalled possible military intervention if Nigeria does not halt alleged attacks on Christians, prompting international concern.
In a post on X on Sunday, Hegseth said the Department of War was “preparing for action” should the Nigerian government fail to protect Christian communities. “The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria — and anywhere — must end immediately,” he wrote, adding that the United States would act against those “committing these horrible atrocities.”
The statement echoed a post on Truth Social by President Trump, who warned Washington could suspend aid to Nigeria and again threatened direct action. “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now-disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists,” Trump said. He added he had instructed the Department of War to “prepare for possible action.”
Both messages have stirred diplomatic concern and raised questions about the legal and political implications of unilateral military steps. Nigerian officials have not yet publicly responded to these warnings.
