In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, United States President Donald Trump signalled that the US could undertake multiple military strikes in Nigeria if violence against Christians persists. Trump framed it as a response to what he characterised as repeated killings of Christians by extremist groups in Nigeria, language that has fuelled debate over the motivations behind the intervention. 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 in Nigeria, Trump acknowledged that Muslims were also victims. “I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. The Nigerian government has emphasised cooperation with international partners in counter-terrorism efforts while reiterating that violence against any community, regardless of faith, is unacceptable.

Source: Punch January 09, 2026 16:09 UTC