Nigeria has responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of military action over alleged persecution of Christians, saying it would welcome American assistance in fighting Islamist insurgents only if its territorial integrity is respected.
Presidential adviser Daniel Bwala said tensions were being overblown and expressed hope for “better outcomes” once Trump and President Bola Tinubu meet.
Trump had warned of “fast” U.S. military action if Nigeria failed to stop killings of Christians, calling the country “disgraced.”
Analysts note, however, that while Boko Haram and ISWAP often frame their violence as anti-Christian, most of their victims are Muslims, and the conflict is intertwined with issues of land, ethnicity, and banditry.
Trump’s threat followed the U.S. reinstating Nigeria on its list of “Countries of Particular Concern” for religious freedom violations. Tinubu, a Muslim married to a Christian, rejected accusations of intolerance and pointed to efforts to balance religious representation in government.
Security experts said any U.S. strikes would face challenges due to the militants’ mobility across borders with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, and because U.S. forces withdrew from Niger last year.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
