In a fiery post that sent shockwaves across diplomatic circles, US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to launch a &ldquo;fast, vicious, and sweet&rdquo; military attack on Nigeria, accusing the West African nation of failing to stop alleged killings of Christians by radical Islamist groups.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve directed the Defense Department to prepare for possible action if Nigeria doesn&rsquo;t protect its Christians,&rdquo; Trump declared on his Truth Social account. &ldquo;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!&rdquo; he wrote.
The president further announced an immediate suspension of US aid and assistance to Nigeria, calling it a &ldquo;disgraced country&rdquo; that had turned a blind eye to religious violence.
<h3 data-start="1562" data-end="1600">Pentagon Prepares for &lsquo;Action&rsquo;</h3>
Backing the president&rsquo;s stance, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that the Department of War was &ldquo;preparing for action.&rdquo; He wrote, &ldquo;Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.&rdquo;
Trump&rsquo;s administration has also reinstated Nigeria on the &ldquo;Countries of Particular Concern&rdquo; list &mdash; a roster of nations accused of violating religious freedoms, which includes China, Russia, and North Korea.
<h3 data-start="2131" data-end="2158">Nigeria Pushes Back</h3>
Reacting strongly, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rejected Trump&rsquo;s allegations, calling them &ldquo;unfounded and unfair.&rdquo; &ldquo;The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,&rdquo; Tinubu said, emphasizing that his government &ldquo;continues to uphold freedom of religion for all Nigerians.&rdquo;
Nigeria&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry also issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to combating extremism. &ldquo;Like America, Nigeria celebrates its diversity, it is our greatest strength,&rdquo; it said, expressing hope that Washington would continue to act as a &ldquo;trusted partner&rdquo; rather than an aggressor.
<h3 data-start="2798" data-end="2851">Background: Rising Tensions and Past Warnings</h3>
Nigeria, home to over 230 million people, is split almost evenly between Christians and Muslims. Both communities have suffered repeated attacks by extremist groups such as Boko Haram, which seeks to impose its radical version of Islamic law.
Earlier this year, at least 40 people were killed when armed militants attacked a Christian farming community in the country&rsquo;s Middle Belt region. Despite ongoing counter-terror operations, religious tensions remain a persistent challenge for the Tinubu administration.
Trump&rsquo;s latest comments mark a sharp escalation in rhetoric, one that could significantly strain&nbsp;US-Nigeria diplomatic relations at a time of global instability.

Trump Threatens Nigeria With “Fast,Vicious” Attack

US President warns military action over alleged Christian killings in Nigeria

Trump Threatens Nigeria With “Fast,Vicious” Attack

US President warns military action over alleged Christian killings in Nigeria

November 2, 2025 | 18:21 IST