Trump ordered preparations for "possible action" in Nigeria.

The US President revealed on Saturday that he has ordered the Department of Defense to prepare for “possible” military action in Nigeria. The announcement comes at a time when Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that the country is not taking sufficient measures to contain violence against Christians, accusations that Nigeria refutes. Trump has also threatened to cut aid to the region.

“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the murder of Christians, the US will immediately suspend all support and assistance to Nigeria and may very well invade that now disgraced country, 'with weapons in hand,' to completely annihilate the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrific atrocities,” he wrote on the social network he founded, Truth Social.

Donald Trump warned of the effects of a possible US action in Nigeria: “If we attack, it will be swift, brutal and precise, just like the terrorists attack our DEAR Christians!” “WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT MUST ACT QUICKLY!”

In response, Defense Secretary Pete Hegset assured that they are already "preparing for action." "The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria—and everywhere—must stop immediately," he wrote on social media. "Either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrific atrocities," he asserted.

Yes sir.

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. pic.twitter.com/C0v9RHGoS1

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) November 1, 2025

The announcement came a day after Trump promised to include Nigeria on the list of countries of “special concern.” This label is used by the U.S. to designate states marked by “severe violations of religious freedom.”

Nigeria has refuted these accusations. On Saturday, even before Donald Trump's post on Truth Social, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stressed that they do not reflect the national reality and do not take into account the government's "consistent and sincere" efforts to ensure religious freedom for all Nigerians.

Several regions of Nigeria have suffered attacks perpetrated by extremist Islamic groups, with Boko Haram , which has attacked both Christians and Muslims whom it does not consider sufficiently faithful to the religion, being one of the best known. In fact, a 2024 report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom indicated that extremist attacks in the country “affect a large number of Christians and Muslims in several Nigerian states.”

In addition to religiously motivated attacks, there are also clashes between farmers and herders over increasingly scarce resources in the country, as well as community and ethnic conflicts.