United States President Donald Trump has warned that Washington may carry out additional military strikes in Nigeria if killings linked to extremist violence continue, particularly against Christians.
Trump gave the warning in an interview published on Thursday, where he was asked whether the December 25 US military strike against Islamic State-linked militants in northwest Nigeria was a one-off operation or the beginning of a wider campaign.
According to him, while he would have preferred the Christmas Day strike to end the matter, continued attacks could trigger further action. “I’d love to make it a one-time strike, but if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike,” he said.
The December operation, which the United States said targeted Islamic State affiliates at the request of the Nigerian government, attracted global attention because of its timing and the justification given by Washington.
Trump described the strike as a response to what he characterised as repeated killings of Christians by extremist groups, a position that has generated debate over the nature of Nigeria’s security challenges and foreign intervention.
When asked about comments credited to his senior Africa adviser that groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province had killed more Muslims than Christians, Trump acknowledged that Muslims were also victims of the violence.
“I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians,” he said.
The Federal Government has rejected claims of a genocide against Christians, insisting that armed groups operating in the country target communities across religious lines, particularly in the violence-hit northern regions.
Nigerian authorities have also stressed the need for cooperation with international partners in counter-terrorism efforts, while maintaining that attacks on any group, regardless of religion, remain unacceptable.
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