The United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, has indicated that Washington may consider military action in Nigeria if the Nigerian government fails to curb alleged attacks on Christian communities across the country.
In a post shared on the social media platform X on Sunday, Hegseth stated that the U.S. Department of War is “preparing for action” over what he described as ongoing killings targeting Christians.
“The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and anywhere must end immediately,” he wrote.
“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.”
Hegseth’s statement comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning on his Truth Social platform, saying that continued violence could prompt the United States to suspend aid to Nigeria and potentially take direct action.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria,” Trump said.
“We may very well go into that country ‘guns-a-blazing’ to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
He instructed the U.S. Department of War to “prepare for possible action,” adding that any intervention would be “fast, vicious, and decisive.”
The remarks have sparked international concern and debate, as they follow growing criticism from human rights groups and religious organizations over recurring attacks on rural communities in parts of Nigeria.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly denied allegations of religious persecution, insisting that security challenges affect citizens across faiths and regions.
The Presidency has yet to officially respond to the latest statements from U.S. officials.
