In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, United States President Donald Trump signalled that the US could carry out multiple military strikes in Nigeria if violence against Christians continues.
Asked whether the December 25 military operation against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria marked the beginning of a broader campaign, Trump said, “I’d love to make it a one-time strike… but if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.”
The Christmas Day strike, which Washington said targeted Islamic State affiliates at the request of the Nigerian government, drew global attention when it was carried out. Nigerian authorities have described the operation as a joint counter-terrorism effort rather than one driven by religious motives.
Trump framed the intervention as a response to what he characterised as repeated killings of Christians by extremist groups in Nigeria, a description that has fuelled debate over the motivations behind the action.
When pressed about comments from his senior Africa adviser noting that groups such as Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram have killed more Muslims than Christians, Trump acknowledged that Muslims were also among the victims. “I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians,” he said.
The Nigerian government has rejected claims of genocide against Christians, emphasising that violent armed groups operate with mixed motives and have killed people of different faiths across the country’s troubled northern regions. It has stressed cooperation with international partners in counter-terrorism efforts while reiterating that violence against any community, regardless of faith, is unacceptable.
