Nigeria’s president is seeking a meeting with US counterpart Donald Trump, according to an aide, after the American leader threatened to deploy the military to Africa’s most populous nation over what he described as a jihadist threat to Christians.
Daniel Bwala, a senior aide to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, told AFP that “we do not see the (post) in the literal sense”, reports RTE.
“We know that Donald Trump has his own style of communication,” Mr Bwala said, suggesting that his comments were intended to “force a sit-down between the two leaders so they can iron out a common front to fight their insecurity”, reports RTE.
Earlier, Mr Bwala had indicated on X that the two leaders could be meeting soon.
“As for the differences as to whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or in fact all faiths and no faiths, the differences if they exist, would be discussed and resolved by the two leaders when they meet in the coming days, either in State House or White House,” he said, reports RTE.
Speaking by phone from Washington, Mr Bwala declined to reveal any further details about a possible meeting.
Mr Trump said he had directed the Department of War to prepare for potential “fast” military action in Nigeria if the government fails to stop the killing of Christians, reports RTE.
The US president also announced that Washington would immediately halt all aid and assistance to Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, and most populous country.
If military action were taken, the US would go in “‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Mr Trump wrote, without providing specific evidence of persecution against Christians in Nigeria, reports RTE.
He referred to Nigeria as a “disgraced country” and warned its authorities to act swiftly.
“If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!” he wrote, reports RTE.
A spokesperson for the Nigerian presidency said the country would accept help from the United States in combating Islamist insurgents, as long as its sovereignty is respected.
The Department of War was previously known as the Defense Department, reports RTE.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated online that his department is “preparing for action”.
“The Department of War is preparing for action,” he wrote on X. “Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” reports RTE.
Mr Trump’s post about Nigeria came a day after his administration reinstated the country on the list of “Countries of Particular Concern” for religious freedom violations. Other nations on the list include China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan, reports RTE.
Before Mr Trump’s remarks, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had already rejected accusations of religious intolerance and defended Nigeria’s record on protecting freedom of belief.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” Mr Tinubu said in a statement, citing “constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths,” reports RTE.
Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry, in a separate statement, pledged to continue its fight against violent extremism and expressed hope that the US would remain a close ally, stating it “will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion. Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength,” reports RTE.
The US military presence in West Africa has diminished significantly since about 1,000 troops withdrew from Niger last year. While small units occasionally take part in exercises in the region, the largest US base in Africa remains in Djibouti, where more than 5,000 troops are stationed, reports RTE.
Mr Trump had first labelled Nigeria a country of concern during his initial term in office, but his successor, Joe Biden, removed it from the list in 2021.
On Friday, Mr Trump alleged that “thousands of Christians” were being killed in Nigeria by radical Islamists, though he provided no further details, reports RTE.
Nigeria, home to over 200 ethnic groups practicing Christianity, Islam, and indigenous faiths, has a long record of coexistence, although tensions have sometimes flared due to ethnic divisions or competition over resources.
The Islamist militant group Boko Haram has waged a brutal insurgency in northeast Nigeria for 15 years, claiming tens of thousands of lives. Human rights monitors note that most of its victims have been Muslims, reports RTE.
US lawmakers, including Republican Representative Tom Cole, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, praised Mr Trump’s action, citing “the alarming and ongoing persecution of Christians across the country”.
The committee’s fiscal 2026 national security appropriations bill includes more funding for international religious freedom initiatives and aid for Nigerian communities targeted by extremist violence, reports RTE.
Mr Trump’s decision to re-designate Nigeria as a country of concern enables various policy responses, such as sanctions or waivers, though none are automatic.
Some Christian organisations had urged Mr Trump to take this step in a letter last month, published by the Hudson Institute think tank, reports RTE.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Mr Trump wrote without offering any specifics. He also called on the US House of Representatives Appropriations Committee to investigate, reports RTE.
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