Aboard Air Force One, the President of the United States Donald Trump warned he will not tolerate the record killings of Christians in Nigeria by Islamist militants like Boko Haram, which claimed over 4,000 lives last year amid ethnic and resource conflicts.
“They’re killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria…
“That part of the world is very bad. They’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers.
“I’m not gonna allow that to happen.”
He left open the possibility of U.S. military intervention, including troops or airstrikes, if the Nigerian government fails to act.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to visit Washington on Tuesday for talks with Vice President JD Vance, emphasizing sovereignty while seeking anti-terror partnerships, as U.S. reactions divide between support and escalation concerns.
According to presidency sources quoted by SaharaReporters, Tinubu’s visit will focus on strengthening security and diplomatic cooperation between both nations.
Trump has reportedly delegated his Vice President, James David Vance, to meet with Tinubu during the trip, barring any last-minute changes. Daniel Bwala, Media Aide to President Tinubu, confirmed that both leaders share a strong commitment to combating terrorism and promoting global peace.
He noted that the Trump administration had previously supported Nigeria through arms sales, which Tinubu’s government continues to utilize in the fight against insurgency.
The visit comes after Trump’s recent threat to cut U.S. aid to Nigeria or deploy American troops if the Nigerian government fails to stop what he described as the “killing of Christians.”
The Nigerian presidency has since dismissed the claims, insisting there is no state-sponsored persecution of Christians. Tinubu maintained that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion and equal rights for all citizens, describing Trump’s remarks as a “mischaracterization” of the nation’s religious landscape.