Trump Warns Nigeria of Further Airstrikes Over Christian Killings
- In a wide-ranging interview with the New York Times, Trump was asked whether the Christmas Day strikes in Nigeria's northern Sokoto state, targeting Islamist militants, where part of...
- "We did it, and we did it to stop the killing of Christians," he said.
- "They've been killing Christians.And it's a terrible thing.
US President Donald Trump has warned that he could order more airstrikes on Nigeria if Christians continue to be killed in the West African nation.
In a wide-ranging interview with the New York Times, Trump was asked whether the Christmas Day strikes in Nigeria’s northern Sokoto state, targeting Islamist militants, where part of a broader military campaign.
“We did it, and we did it to stop the killing of Christians,” he said.
“They’ve been killing Christians.And it’s a terrible thing. And I said, ‘We have to do something.’ And we did.”
He added that he could “do a lot more” if the killings continued.
Last year, Trump declared Nigeria a “country of particular concern” because of what he said was the “existential threat” to its Christian population.
The US State Department estimates that at least 1,500 Christians were killed in Nigeria in 2019, mostly in attacks by Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen.
The Nigerian government has condemned the killings and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, but critics say it has not done enough to protect Christians.
The Christmas Day airstrikes killed dozens of militants, but there were also reports of civilian casualties.
The Nigerian government has launched an inquiry into the incident.
Recent airstrikes in Nigeria targeted a camp associated with a militant leader, Isah Lakurawa, killing dozens. The operation took place in Kaduna state, a region experiencing frequent attacks.
Lakurawa is believed to have been a key figure in banditry in the area for over a decade, operating from areas north of Nigeria in the Sahel.
The US and Nigerian governments stated the militants had links to Islamic State groups in the Sahel, though IS has not publicly acknowledged any connection to Lakurawa or his group, unlike with other groups it supports in the region.
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar described the strikes as a “joint operation” and stated religion played no part in the decision. He also said the timing was unrelated to Christmas, despite former US President Donald Trump claiming he authorized the strikes as a “Christmas present” – according to Politico.
The foreign minister confirmed the strikes were approved by President Bola Tinubu and involved the nigerian armed forces.
