By Joke Kujenya
AMID MOUNTING concerns over the reported killings of Christians in Nigeria, United States (US) Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed on Saturday that the Department of War is preparing for action in response to escalating violence against Christian communities.
Washington’s move followed President Donald Trump’s directive instructing the Department of War to ready itself for possible military intervention in Nigeria.
Writing on X, Hegseth declared that the United States would strike if the Nigerian government failed to stop what he described as “horrible atrocities.”
He stated, “The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and anywhere must end immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action.
“Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
His remarks followed President Trump’s earlier post on Truth Social, in which he ordered the Department of War to ready itself for a potential operation in Nigeria.
The President accused the Nigerian government of allowing what he termed “the genocide of Christians,” warning that continued inaction could trigger direct U.S. military response.
Trump wrote, “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
He added, “I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”
The President further announced that Nigeria would be listed by the U.S. Department of State as a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing what he described as continued violations of religious freedom and repeated acts of violence targeting Christians.
He blamed radical Islamist elements for what he called the “mass slaughter” of believers, asserting that the United States would not remain passive in the face of religious persecution.
According to Trump, “Thousands of Christians have been killed by radical Islamists in Nigeria, and the government has done little to stop it. America will not stand by while Christians are slaughtered. We will defend them.”
White House officials confirmed that the Department of War had begun preliminary reviews of potential response strategies, including diplomatic, economic, and military measures.
The administration said it was acting on what it called “credible intelligence” of sustained attacks on Christian communities in parts of Nigeria.
Hegseth reaffirmed that the United States would act decisively if the killings continued. He stated, “Our forces are ready. We hope Nigeria will do the right thing to protect its people, but we will not stand by while Christians are murdered with impunity.”
The statements mark a significant escalation in U.S. rhetoric toward Nigeria and reflect Trump’s broader foreign policy emphasis on defending religious liberty globally.
The President has previously made similar declarations regarding the protection of Christians in the Middle East and parts of Africa.
In his social media post, Trump reiterated that the U.S. would “immediately cut off all assistance” to Nigeria if the government failed to end the attacks, asserting that religious persecution would trigger “a swift and decisive American response.”
He described the alleged killings as “a humanitarian outrage” that the world must not ignore.
Nigeria’s government has yet to officially respond to the latest warnings from Washington.
However, President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, rejected the U.S. President’s description of Nigeria as a “disgraced country,” insisting that Nigeria remains a democratic nation founded on constitutional freedom of religion and belief.
He stated that the Nigerian government continues to combat terrorism in all its forms and urged international partners to support its ongoing security efforts.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued any statement regarding the potential U.S. military action. Diplomatic analysts suggest that the strong language from Washington could heighten tensions between both governments if not addressed through diplomatic channels.
Trump concluded his remarks by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to protecting Christian populations worldwide. He said, “We will not ignore the suffering of our brothers and sisters in faith. The United States stands ready to act where others have failed.”
As of Sunday, there was no indication of immediate U.S. troop movement, though sources in Washington said the directive to the Department of War had triggered standard operational reviews. Hegseth emphasised that America’s response would depend on the Nigerian government’s actions in the coming days.
He concluded, “The mission is clear. Protect Christians. End the killings. The United States will do what must be done if Nigeria fails to act.”
