 |
| Image: Google |
United States President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington could carry out additional military strikes in Nigeria if violence against Christians continues, raising fresh concerns over foreign intervention in the country’s security challenges.
Trump made the remarks during an interview with The New York Times, where he was asked whether the Christmas Day missile strikes against Islamic State-linked targets in Nigeria marked the beginning of a broader US military campaign.
The December operation came weeks after the American president had issued a strong warning, threatening to send US forces into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing to wipe out the terrorists killing our cherished Christians.” His comments followed repeated claims by some US lawmakers and advocacy groups that Christians in Nigeria were being systematically targeted.
After the Christmas Day strikes, Nigerian authorities described the action as a singular event rather than the start of sustained military involvement. The Federal Government stressed that Nigeria remains fully in charge of its national security decisions.
Ademola Oshodi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, had emphasised that while Nigeria cooperates with international partners, it retains full authority over security operations within its borders.
Despite those assurances, Trump suggested that further military action could be on the table if the situation does not improve. Speaking in the interview published on Thursday, he made it clear that the strikes were not necessarily a closed chapter.
“I’d love to make it a one-time strike,” Trump said.
“But if they continue to kill Christians it will be a many-time strike.”
The statement has sparked renewed debate over Nigeria’s internal security crisis and how it is being framed internationally. For years, Nigeria has battled insurgency, banditry, and communal violence, particularly in the North-East and parts of the Middle Belt.
However, the Nigerian government has consistently pushed back against claims that the violence amounts to targeted persecution of Christians. Officials argue that insecurity in the country cuts across religious, ethnic and regional lines, affecting both Christians and Muslims alike.
In October, Trump’s Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, publicly stated that extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had killed more Muslims than Christians in Nigeria.
When asked to respond to his adviser’s assessment, Trump acknowledged the broader impact of the violence but maintained his stance.
“I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians,” he said.
The president’s comments highlight a divergence in perspectives even within his administration, reflecting the complexity of Nigeria’s security situation and the difficulty of reducing it to a single narrative.
Security analysts have often noted that terrorist groups in Nigeria primarily target communities—regardless of faith—based on location, perceived allegiance, or vulnerability, rather than religion alone.
Meanwhile, reports following the Christmas Day strikes indicated that the United States had resumed intelligence-gathering and surveillance activities within Nigerian airspace. Flight tracking data reportedly showed US aircraft conducting reconnaissance missions, suggesting an ongoing interest in monitoring extremist movements.
While Washington has not officially confirmed any plans for future strikes, Trump’s latest remarks signal that the option remains under consideration if attacks persist.
The comments have also raised diplomatic questions about sovereignty, international cooperation, and the long-term implications of foreign military involvement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with insecurity, the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to addressing the crisis through domestic military operations, intelligence coordination, and regional partnerships, while resisting what it sees as oversimplified portrayals of a deeply complex conflict.
For now, Trump’s warning adds a new layer of international pressure, even as Nigerian authorities insist that lasting solutions must come from within.
#DonaldTrump
#Nigeria
#NollywoodTimes
No comments:
Post a Comment