Nigerian Christians have responded to President Donald Trump ordering the American military to prepare for possible action in Nigeria to protect Christians from Islamist violence.
In a post on social media, Trump said he had directed the Department of War to ready for “possible action”, warning that unless Nigeria acted, the United States might “send the military into Nigeria, guns-a-blazing”.
He also threatened to cut all aid to what he called “the now disgraced country”, adding, “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!”
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth responded publicly, writing, “Yes sir. 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.”
Speaking to the Herald, Orazagas Sov, who attends Full Gospel Revival Crusade in Benue State, generally considered to be the most dangerous state for Christians, said: “Christians are killed every day by Fulani jihadists, and the government isn’t doing anything about it. Trump should come for our rescue.”
Tersoo Anjila, also from Benue State, expressed similar sentiments.
“In villages, worshippers have been attacked in churches repeatedly, with thousands killed. There are times Christian communities are attacked and people are murdered in cold blood while asleep. In my state, Benue, over 300 people were massacred some five months ago by Fulani terrorists. I want to make it clear that this is jihad, it is an Islamist expansionist agenda. Any reason advanced for these killings is a lie. I am completely in support of any intervention that will bring an end to this.”
Reflecting on her experiences outside Benue, Anjila said: “I have travelled to Mbula in Adamawa State. I have interacted with the locals whose existence is threatened just because they have refused Islam in a Muslim-dominated state. The Church is under serious persecution in the Middle Belt and northern part of the country where Boko Haram has a stronghold. In some communities, people are made to pay taxes to these terrorists.”
In a video delivered while standing on a mass grave of 501 Christians, Dallah Fomson expressed his support for Trump’s intervention in the plight of Christians. Fomson said: “There couldn’t have been any better news than the re-designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern for its role in religious freedom violations in the country. This is a critical first step to recognising and intervening in the decades-old violations manifesting in multiple ways, including in critical political decisions. Thank you President Donald J. Trump. Thank you Senator Ted Cruz. Thank you Congressman Chris Smith. Thank you Secretary Marco Rubio. Thank you Judd Saul. Thank you Equipping the Persecuted. Thank you to all of you who played significant roles to make this happen.”
According to Open Doors, in 2024 Nigeria was the country with the highest number of Christians killed for their faith, with 3,100 Christians killed and 2,830 kidnapped that year.
While Nigeria has a long history of religious violence, attacks against Christians have greatly increased in the 21st century. Boko Haram, founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf and opposing Western influence in favour of an Islamic state in Nigeria, has been a major cause of the violence. Tensions escalated in 2009 when Boko Haram launched its insurgency in the northeast, with massacres of Christians greatly increasing.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has responded to the proposed intervention by saying it would welcome American assistance to fight Islamist insurgents, but only under Nigerian command.
Related: Trump orders US military to prepare for action in Nigeria
(Photo by JOHN WESSELS/AFP via Getty Images)
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