We are preparing for action in Nigeria, says US war secretary

Pete Hegseth, US secretary of war, says his department is preparing for possible military action if the Nigerian government fails to end the “killing of innocent Christians” in the country.

Hegseth made the comment on Saturday in response to a Truth Social post by US President Donald Trump, who accused the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to attacks on Christians.

“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing’, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump wrote.

“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action.

“If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians. Warning: the Nigerian government better move fast!”

Hegseth swiftly quoted Trump’s post on social media platform X.

“Yes sir. The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria — and anywhere — must end immediately,” Hegseth wrote.

“The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”

This is coming a day after Trump redesignated Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’ in response to allegations of Christian genocide in the country.

He blamed radical Islamists for the “mass slaughter” of Christians in Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu rejected Trump’s labelling of Nigeria, saying the West African nation remains a democracy anchored on constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and belief.