Nigerian leaders and citizens from both Christian and Muslim communities have rejected former US President Donald Trump’s threat of US strikes in response to recent violence in the country. The warning came after Trump accused Nigerian authorities of allowing large-scale killings of Christians.
Trump said over the weekend that he had asked the Pentagon to prepare options for military action. When asked if that could include US strikes or deploying ground troops, he replied, “Could be, I envisage a lot of things.” His remarks quickly drew sharp criticism in Nigeria, where many view the violence as a complex issue rooted in land disputes, not religion.
Religious and Ethnic Violence
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is almost evenly divided between a Christian south and a Muslim-majority north. In states like Plateau, clashes between farmers and herders have caused widespread destruction and loss of life. While many of the victims are Christians, experts note that Muslims are also frequent targets of the violence.
Community leader Danjuma Dickson Auta, from Plateau state, said both groups suffer. “Christians are being killed, and Muslims are also being killed,” he told AFP. Analysts add that poor land management and weak law enforcement have worsened the crisis.
Nigerian Government Responds
President Bola Tinubu dismissed the claim of Christian persecution, saying Nigeria remains committed to religious freedom and tolerance. His spokesman, Daniel Bwala, suggested Trump’s comments could be aimed at pressuring both leaders to discuss regional security issues.
Christian and Muslim leaders alike warned against any US strikes, arguing that foreign military action would only deepen divisions. Reverend Joseph Hayab of the Christian Association of Nigeria said Trump’s comments should instead be viewed as a “wake-up call” to tackle terrorism within Nigeria’s borders.
Experts warn that framing the violence as religious genocide oversimplifies a conflict driven by competition over land, poverty, and poor governance. Calls for US strikes, they say, risk escalating tensions in a country already struggling with multiple security challenges, including jihadist insurgencies and armed banditry.
In other news read more about: Nigeria Rejects Trump’s Claims of Christian Genocide, Calls Remarks Misleading
