Washington, Jan 9, 2026 — US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could carry out further military strikes in Nigeria if violence against Christians does not stop, raising fresh concerns about Washington’s role in the West African country’s long-running security crisis.
In an interview with The New York Times, published on Thursday, Trump said a recent US military strike in Nigeria was intended as a one-time action but did not rule out future attacks. “I want it to be a one-time strike,” Trump said. “But if they keep killing Christians, then it will become many strikes,” according to Reuters.
Trump was responding to questions about a US military operation conducted around Christmas, which targeted militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) in northwestern Nigeria. The US military said the strike was carried out at the request of the Nigerian government, which described it as a joint operation against terrorism rather than an action tied to any religious group.
During the interview, Trump acknowledged that Muslims are also being killed in Nigeria but insisted that Christians are disproportionately targeted. His comments came despite earlier remarks by his Africa adviser, who noted that IS and Boko Haram militants have killed more Muslims than Christians in the country.
The Nigerian government has firmly rejected claims of systematic persecution of Christians, stressing that both Muslims and Christians have been victims of extremist violence. Nigerian authorities have said they are willing to continue cooperating with the United States in counterterrorism efforts but oppose framing the conflict as one that places Christians at special risk.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with more than 230 million people, is almost evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. Christians are predominantly based in the south, while Muslims form the majority in the north. The country has faced years of insecurity from militant groups, banditry, and communal violence, particularly in its northern regions.
Trump’s comments are likely to fuel debate over US military involvement in Africa and the risk of escalating conflict under the banner of protecting religious communities.
