Donald Trump, the president of the United States, has escalated his threat of military action in Nigeria, stating that he would not rule out airstrikes or ground forces to stop what he called the targeted murder of Christians in the West African nation.
In a video message on Wednesday, Trump reiterated the warning after redesignating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” on October 31. He accused “radical Islamists” of carrying out a “mass slaughter” of Christians and threatened to take action if the Nigerian government did not put an end to the violence.
Trump used direct language to detail potential US actions in the recorded speech, which was given behind a lectern wearing his office’s seal. He stated that the US might both stop providing aid and launch direct military action.
“The United States will immediately stop all aid assistance to Nigeria if the Nigerian government continues to permit the killing of Christians,” he declared.
“We are going to do things to Nigerians that Nigeria will not be happy about and may very well go into that now-disgraced country, guns blazing, to completely eradicate the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
He urged Nigerian authorities to act quickly and advised the US Department of War to “prepare for possible actions,” cautioning that any strike would be “vicious and sweet.”
“I am giving the Department of War instructions to get ready for potential actions.” If we attack, it will be just as vicious and delicious as the terrorist thugs assault our beloved Christians. Before it’s too late, the Nigerian government needs to act quickly, he stated.
For Nigerian Christians, the crisis is existential, according to the US president.
In Nigeria, Christianity faces an existential threat. The number of Christians being killed is in the thousands. “This mass slaughter is the fault of radical Islamists,” Trump added, urging Congress to look into the claims right once.
He requested that Representative Tom Cole, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Representative Riley Moore investigate the matter and provide a fast report.
“I am requesting that Congressman Riley Moore, along with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, look into this matter right away and get back to me,” he stated.
Beyond military possibilities, Trump warned of the instant suspension of US funding should the deaths persist and portrayed the administration’s stance as part of a global effort to preserve Christian communities.
“We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are occurring in Nigeria and numerous other countries,” he declared.
