President Trump on Saturday told the Department of Defense (DOD) to “be prepared for possible action” Nigeria On alleged attacks on Christians in the African country.
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the United States will immediately cease all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may go ‘guns-blazing’ into that infamous country to completely eliminate the Islamic terrorists who perpetrated these terrible atrocities.” Truth wrote in the social post.
The post further said, “I am directing my War Department to prepare for possible action.” “If we attack, it will be fast, brutal and sweet, just like terrorist thugs attack our beloved Christians! WARNING: The Nigerian government better move fast!”
Before Trump’s social media comments, Nigerians chairman Bola Tinubu on Saturday said his government is committed to working with the United States
“The description of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into account the government’s consistent and sincere efforts to protect freedom of religion and belief for all Nigerians,” Tinubu said. Wrote on social platform X. Religious freedom and tolerance have been and will always be the core principles of our collective identity.”
Tinubu further said, “Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.” “Nigeria is a country where the security of its citizens of all religions is constitutionally guaranteed.”
Trump had previously said that Nigeria would be placed on the State Department’s watch list of “countries of particular concern”. one in satya social post On Friday, he asked Representatives Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.) to “look into this matter immediately and report back to me.”
“America cannot remain silent when such atrocities are taking place in Nigeria and many other countries,” Trump wrote. “We are ready, willing and able to save our great Christian population throughout the world!”
The presidential order on Saturday comes after Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called on Congress to designate Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom, claiming the country has committed “Christian genocide.” The Associated Press Informed.
There have been religiously motivated attacks against both Christian and Muslim populations, the AP reports. But other attacks have also taken place between farmers and herders fighting over dwindling resources.
The AP also cited figures from the US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Program, showing that between January 2020 and this September, 385 attacks that were “targeted incidents against Christians … where the victim’s Christian identity was a perceived factor” resulted in 317 deaths. In the same period, 417 deaths of Muslims were recorded in 196 attacks.
“There has been no systematic, deliberate effort by the Nigerian government or any serious group to target any particular religion,” Information Minister Idris Muhammad told the outlet.
Rapper Nicki Minaj was among those praising Trump’s actions, who on Saturday thanked the president “for taking this seriously.”
“Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude,” Minaj Posted on x, Sharing the screenshot of Trump’s truth social post from Friday. “We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion. We do not need to share the same beliefs to respect each other. Many countries around the world are being affected by this horror and it is dangerous to pretend we don’t care.”
All this comes days after Nobel Prize-winning Nigerian author Wole Soyinka Said His non-resident visa to enter the US was denied. He said he believed it happened because he criticized Trump, which he has done for years.
“I have no visa,” Soyinka told a news conference on Tuesday. “Apparently, I’m banned from the United States, and if you want to see me, you know where to find me.”
