United States President Donald Trump has said the US may carry out more military strikes in Nigeria if killings linked to extremist violence continue. He made this known during an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday.
Trump was asked about the US airstrike carried out on December 25 against Islamic State-linked fighters in northwest Nigeria. The operation, which took place on Christmas Day, was described by Washington as a response to requests from the Nigerian government and was aimed at weakening extremist groups operating in the region.
While speaking on the issue, Trump suggested that the December strike might not be the last. He indicated that further action could follow if attacks linked to religious violence persist in Nigeria. His comments have drawn attention due to the sensitive nature of Nigeria’s security challenges and its diverse religious population.
Trump also reacted to remarks credited to his senior Africa adviser, who reportedly said that extremist groups in Nigeria have killed more Muslims than Christians. The US president acknowledged that Muslims are also victims of violence in the country but maintained that Christians are frequently targeted.
The Nigerian government has rejected claims that there is a targeted campaign against Christians. Authorities have repeatedly stated that armed groups in the north carry out attacks driven by a mix of criminal, economic, and ideological motives, affecting both Muslim and Christian communities.
The Federal Government has continued to stress that it is working with international partners to tackle insecurity while maintaining that all forms of violence against civilians, regardless of religion, are unacceptable.
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