Trump says he’s ordered Pentagon to ‘prepare for possible action’ in Nigeria

President Donald Trump said Saturday he has ordered the Defense Department to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria, accusing the government of failing to stop deadly attacks on Christians. The comments came in a lengthy post on social media in which Trump threatened to halt U.S. aid and warned Nigerian authorities to “move fast.”

“If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet,” Trump wrote, saying U.S. forces might go into the country “guns-a-blazing” to “completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.” He added he was directing what he called the “Department of War” to prepare for action.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the president’s stance on social media, posting a screenshot of Trump’s message and saying the Pentagon was preparing for possible operations. “The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and anywhere must end immediately,” Hegseth wrote.

Trump’s threats follow his designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act, a label the administration says reflects systemic violations of religious freedom.

Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, rejected the characterization. In a social media post, Tinubu said the designation “does not reflect our national reality” and noted the government’s efforts to protect freedom of belief. He said Nigeria was cooperating with the United States and the international community to improve protection for people of all faiths.

Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga also pushed back, telling critics that violence in Nigeria is not limited to Christians and pointing out that Muslims have also been targeted by extremists. “What our country requires from America is military support to fight these violent extremists in some states of our country, not designation as a nation of particular concern,” he said.

Nigeria has for years faced complex, often overlapping security threats: attacks by Islamist militants in the northeast, criminal banditry, and violent clashes between farmers and herders over land and resources. Local reporting indicates victims include both Christians and Muslims, and observers say motivations for violence can be religious, communal, or economic.

The White House and Tinubu’s office did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.