For years, we have heard horror stories about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Now, however, the issue has caught the interest of President Donald Trump, and he has put Nigeria on notice that it had better take corrective steps, or he is prepared to take action.
Trump clearly got the attention of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who now wants to meet with the commander in chief to discuss the issue.
Recent reports claim that nearly 70% of all killings of Christians worldwide are taking place in Nigeria.
Trump saw the report and responded, "Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.”
He continued, "Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’ -- But that is the least of it."
This is not something you generally see atop headlines, but we all know, once Trump addresses something, the media pounces, especially in light of the president's follow-up comment.
The post above was made on Friday, and Trump followed that up with a far more direct statement on Saturday.
He wrote, “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. 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 then added, “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!”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is ready to go as soon as Trump gives the order, replying, “The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria -- and anywhere -- must end immediately. 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.”
President Tinubu was clearly paying attention, immediately responding to Trump’s post by stating, “The characterization 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.”
Tinubu’s special adviser, Daniel Bwala, then announced that his president expects to have meetings with Trump very soon, stating, “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.”
Bwala later added, “We welcome U.S. assistance as long as it recognizes our territorial integrity. I am sure by the time these two leaders meet and sit, there would be better outcomes in our joint resolve to fight terrorism.”
The record on this is very clear, so I am not sure what Tinubu can say to Trump that will convince him that this deadly persecution is not taking place. Trump has to be careful here not to take Tinubu at his word on this and to directly confront him with the widely published numbers on these killings. We have the big stick here, and Trump needs to use it.
