WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump warned that the United States could launch more military strikes in Nigeria if attacks on Christians continue, according to comments published by the New York Times.
Trump’s comments, published Thursday on the newspaper’s website, came after questions about Washington’s Christmas Day strike in northwest Nigeria. The U.S. military said the operation targeted Islamic State militants at Nigeria’s request. Nigerian officials called it a “joint operation” against terrorists and emphasized it was not aimed at any religious group.
“I’d love to make it a one-time strike,” Trump was quoted as saying. “But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.”
When asked about reports from his Africa adviser that groups like Islamic State and Boko Haram have killed more Muslims than Christians, Trump admitted there have been Muslim casualties but insisted, “It’s mostly Christians.”
The president has often spoken out about religious violence in Nigeria. In October, he said Christianity faced an “existential threat” there and warned of possible U.S. intervention if Nigerian authorities did not protect Christian communities.
Nigeria has a population of over 230 million, with Christians mainly in the south and Muslims in the north. The country has faced ongoing insecurity, including Islamist insurgencies, kidnappings, and communal violence.
Officials in Abuja have repeatedly denied claims of systematic persecution of Christians, pointing out that militants have killed both Muslims and Christians. In response to Trump’s earlier warnings, the Nigerian government said it would keep working with Washington against extremist groups but rejected language that singled out Christians as especially at risk.