Abuja / Washington — According to a report by Sahara Reporters, the U.S. War Department is making preparations for potential military involvement in Nigeria, alleging that Islamist terrorist groups are targeting Christians in the country.
The assertion comes amid growing pressure from U.S. political leaders over claims of mass killings of Christians in Nigeria. Sahara Reporters cites statements by Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary for War, who said that unless the Nigerian government acts decisively to protect Christians, “we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.
According to the report, Hegseth—responding to warnings made by former President Donald Trump—insisted that the War Department would not hesitate to intervene if Nigeria fails to stem the violence. Trump had previously threatened to “go in guns-a-blazing” into Nigeria if the attacks on Christians continued.
The Nigerian government has responded cautiously. In a separate statement, officials acknowledged that cooperation with the U.S. could be beneficial in fighting terrorism, but emphasized that any foreign involvement must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, some Nigerians have raised concerns about the framing of the security crisis in purely religious terms. Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, legal counsel to IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, argued on social media that calls for U.S. intervention may themselves reflect a misunderstanding of Nigeria’s complex security challenges.