In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, United States President Donald Trump said the US could carry out multiple military strikes in Nigeria if violence against Christians continues.
Asked whether the December 25 military operation against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria marked the start of a broader campaign, Trump said, “I’d love to make it a one-time strike… but if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.”
The Christmas Day strike, which Washington said targeted Islamic State affiliates at the request of the Nigerian government, drew global attention when it was carried out. Nigerian authorities have described the operation as a joint counter-terrorism effort rather than one driven by religious motives.
When pressed about comments from his senior Africa adviser that groups such as Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram had killed more Muslims than Christians, Trump acknowledged that Muslims were also victims but maintained that Christians were primarily targeted. “I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians,” he said.
The Nigerian government has rejected claims of a genocide against Christians, emphasising that violent armed groups operate with mixed motives and have killed both Muslims and Christians across the country’s troubled north. Abuja has also stressed cooperation with international partners in counter-terrorism efforts and reaffirmed that violence against any community, regardless of faith, is unacceptable.
