US President Donald Trump has ordered the preparation of plans for military action in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militant groups, accusing the government of not doing enough to halt the killing of Christians.
Trump did not specify which killings he was referring to, but claims of a genocide against Nigeria's Christians have been circulating in recent weeks and months in right-wing US circles.
Monitoring groups indicate that there is no evidence to suggest that Christians are being killed more than Muslims in Nigeria, where the population is approximately evenly split between the two religions.
The Nigerian government has not publicly addressed the threat of US military action.
However, Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu insisted that there was religious tolerance in the country and stated that security challenges impact citizens across various faiths and regions.
Trump's comments came via social media, where he mentioned he instructed the US Department of War to prepare for possible action in Nigeria.
He warned that he might send the military into Nigeria guns-a-blazing unless the Nigerian government intervened, while also threatening to cut all aid to the country.
He added, If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!
Trump had earlier declared Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern due to an alleged existential threat towards its Christian population, claiming that thousands have been killed without providing evidence.
This designation by the US State Department, meant to impose sanctions against nations involved in severe violations of religious freedom, has seen President Tinubu commit to working collaboratively with the US to uphold protections for communities of all faiths. He stated that the characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not accurately represent the reality of the nation.
While jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province have caused significant harm particularly in northeastern Nigeria, much of the violence has predominantly affected Muslim communities, according to political violence analysis groups like Acled.
In central Nigeria, conflicts often arise between mainly Muslim herders and predominantly Christian farming communities over water and grazing access, leading to cycles of violence that have resulted in many deaths on both sides. Human rights organizations indicate no evidence of disproportionate targeting of Christians relative to Muslims.
Trump has positioned himself as a president who has maintained peace without embroiling the US in war, yet he faces mounting pressure, particularly from the political right, regarding the situation in Nigeria.
Additional reporting by Chris Ewokor in Abuja
