US–Nigeria Tensions Rise as Trump Threatens Further US Military Strikes Over Killings

Relations between the United States and Nigeria have come under renewed strain following comments by US President Donald Trump suggesting that Washington could carry out further military strikes in Nigeria if Christians continue to be killed.

Trump made the remarks in an interview published on Thursday, 8 January, in which he was asked about a US military strike carried out on Christmas Day in northwestern Nigeria. The operation reportedly targeted Islamic State militants operating in the region.

“I’d love to make it a one-time strike,” Trump said. “But if the killings continue, it will be a many-time strike.”

Christmas Day Strike Sparks Controversy

According to the US military, the Christmas Day operation was conducted at the request of the Nigerian government and was aimed specifically at Islamic State-linked fighters. Nigerian officials have since confirmed that the strike was part of a joint counterterrorism effort and rejected any suggestion that it was motivated by religion.

Abuja has been keen to emphasise that the operation was directed at extremist groups threatening national security, rather than at any religious community.

Nigeria Rejects Claims of Religious Persecution

Trump’s comments have revived a sensitive and long-running debate about religion and violence in Africa’s most populous country. Nigerian authorities have strongly pushed back against the idea that Christians are being systematically targeted.

Officials argue that extremist violence has claimed the lives of both Muslims and Christians, particularly in northern and central regions where insurgency, banditry and mass kidnappings have become entrenched.

When pressed during the interview on remarks by his own Africa adviser, who noted that groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province have killed more Muslims than Christians, Trump acknowledged that Muslims were also victims. However, he maintained that Christians were the primary targets.

A Complex Security Crisis

Nigeria is home to more than 230 million people and is almost evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. Christians are largely concentrated in the south, while Muslims dominate the north. For years, the country has struggled with a mix of armed insurgency, criminal gangs and extremist violence, particularly in rural and economically marginalised areas.

Nigerian officials argue that framing the crisis primarily through a religious lens risks oversimplifying the problem. They point to poverty, weak governance, competition over land and resources, and the proliferation of armed groups as key drivers of the violence.

Diplomatic Strains With Washington

While Nigeria has expressed willingness to continue cooperating with the United States on counterterrorism, Trump’s increasingly blunt rhetoric has created unease in Abuja. In late October, he warned that Christianity faced what he described as an existential threat in Nigeria and suggested US military intervention if the government failed to act.

Nigerian leaders have cautioned that such statements could inflame tensions and undermine efforts to address insecurity through coordinated regional and international strategies.

What Comes Next

Trump’s latest warning highlights a growing divergence between Washington and Abuja over how Nigeria’s security challenges should be understood and addressed. While both countries share an interest in combating extremist groups, disagreement over the role of religion and the use of foreign military force has added strain to the relationship.

As violence continues to plague parts of Nigeria, the challenge for both governments will be balancing security cooperation with diplomatic sensitivity in a country where faith, politics and conflict are tightly intertwined.