Trump signals more US strikes in Nigeria if Christians are killed

United States President Donald Trump has suggested the US military could carry out further airstrikes in Nigeria if he believes Christians continue to be killed there. Citing an interview published by The New York Times, reported that Trump said he hoped December’s attack would be a “one‑time strike” but warned it could become a “many‑time strike” if attacks on Christians continued.

The comments were first reported by BBC News, which noted Nigeria’s government rejects allegations of widespread Christian persecution. The remarks come two weeks after the US launched Tomahawk missile strikes in northwest Nigeria, an operation Washington said targeted Islamic State militants at the request of the Nigerian government.

On 25 December 2025, the US Navy fired about a dozen Tomahawk missiles at two camps in Nigeria’s Sokoto State, an area where a new jihadist faction called Lakurawa has been operating. The US Africa Command said the strikes were ordered by the president and conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities to kill militants associated with the Islamic State group. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar later told local media the operation was “a joint operation” and emphasised that it “had nothing to do with a particular religion”.

During his interview with the Times, Trump was asked whether the Christmas Day strike signaled a wider military campaign. “I’d love to make it a one‑time strike,” he said. “But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many‑time strike”. Pressed about his Africa adviser’s assertion that Islamist extremists kill more Muslims than Christians, the president acknowledged Muslims are victims too but insisted “it’s mostly Christians”.

Nigeria rejects genocide claims

Nigeria’s government has repeatedly rejected suggestions that Christians face systematic persecution. In the wake of Trump’s threat, presidential adviser Daniel Bwala said the country welcomes US assistance against insurgents but only if its sovereignty is respected. He stressed that Nigeria “does not discriminate against any tribe or religion” and dismissed talk of a Christian genocide. Foreign Minister Tuggar also insisted the Christmas strike was a joint counter‑terrorism operation and not aimed at any faith.

The West African nation has a population of more than 230 million that is roughly evenly split between Christians and Muslims. Analysts and monitoring groups say jihadist violence has devastated communities of all religions and that the vast majority of victims are Muslims.

Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) cited by Reuters showed that out of 1,923 attacks on civilians in Nigeria during 2025 only 50 specifically targeted Christians. Experts note that much of the violence in northern Nigeria is driven by overlapping factors including ethnic tensions, competition over land and the influence of armed gangs.

Background on Lakurawa and the wider insurgency

Nigeria is already fighting several armed groups, including Boko Haram, its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province, bandit gangs and more recently Lakurawa. The Lakurawa group emerged in northwest Nigeria in 2018 and has since been linked to Islamic State. A federal court declared it a terrorist organisation in January 2025, allowing security forces to use “maximum force” against its members.

The group operates mainly in Kebbi and Sokoto states and has imposed harsh edicts on local communities, prompting Nigeria’s military to resume joint patrols with neighbouring Niger.

The December airstrike marked a rare instance of US military action in Nigeria. A US defence official told Reuters the operation was partly symbolic and intended to deter extremists and reassure allies. Nigeria’s government said the attack was timed for strategic reasons and had the approval of President Bola Tinubu.

Why it matters

Trump’s comments underscore his administration’s willingness to use force in support of allies facing Islamist insurgencies and reflect domestic US politics; evangelical voters have pressured his administration to respond to violence against Christians abroad. Nigeria, which is Africa’s biggest economy, is a key security partner for Washington. Further unilateral US strikes risk straining relations if Nigeria perceives them as undermining its sovereignty. For now, Abuja says it will continue working with Washington to fight militants while rejecting claims that any one religion is being singled out.

Source: BBC News