The United States President, Donald Trump has caused a stir through his Truth Social post brought on by alleged genocide of Christians in Nigeria. These comments have not only been a wake up call for Nigeria, but from credible reports, has sent several terrorists crossing the Nigerian borders into Cameroon, a country that shares borders on the northern and southern parts with Nigeria.
“Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN,’ the post read.
Subsequently he points out : “ If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid 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.”
President Trump’s comments have caused different reactions. While some welcomed a possible US intervention, others condemned Trump as having double standards saying that Christians are also being killed in Gaza. Moreover, many critics have poignantly referred to a history of failed interventions by the US in other countries such as Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan among others, leaving Nigerians sceptical on whether or not this is the way to go.
For sometime, the US has held on to its ‘No boots on ground’ policy when intervening in the crisis situations of other countries. This was its way of minimising loss of its soldiers in a battle most Americans do not consider theirs. In Vietnam alone, the US lost close to 58,220 military fatal causalities according to the Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File of the Defense casualty Analysis System (DCAS). However, in the case of Nigeria, the western country might make an exception.
Nigeria has promptly refuted these allegations of systematic killings of Christians in the country and stands on its response that the allegations of genocide is false.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio explained that the alleged killings of Christian’s is totally untrue, and that Christians and Muslims are not fighting each other. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede tells the media that the country has been doing its very best to checkmate terrorism in Nigeria and will continue to do more. The country is ready to have on board countries willing to help make this happen.
The minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris notes that Nigeria welcomes dialogue, cooperation and support anchored on trust and based on mutual respect from other countries including America. The country welcomes assistance as long as its territorial integrity is respected.
Genocide is described by international law as an intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group, and the death toll also plays an integral part.
Online reports by Open Doors International World Watch List 2025, Global Christian Relief, Genocide Watch International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) 2025 and A Silent Slaughter: The Ongoing Persecution of Christians in Nigeria, 2024 among other reports, as well as some specific incidents such as the December 2023 Christmas day attacks in Plateau State, in January 2024 attacks in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, and more recently, the widespread killings in Benue State may have given rise to these allegations by President Trump.
In an interview with a Cameroonian journalist well versed in international affairs, Kimeng Hilton, he revealed that armed herdsmen have been crossing into Cameroon since President Trump declared war on terrorists in Nigeria. Hilton notes that the killer herdsmen have been causing havoc in Cameroon destroying everything in their path.
“The terrorists have been causing havoc, in fact there was a deadly raid in the South West region near Obudu Cattle Ranch, that is the area linking Cameroon with Cross River State, as a result the US intervention is a good idea.”
He says that if the US has come to this decision to directly intervene in terrorism in Nigeria it’s because they have seen that Nigeria is helpless and overcome by attacks from Boko Haram and now armed herdsmen. If the US can assist, it will give Nigeria some respite. However the manner in which Trump presented the intervention was not palatable.
Hilton insists that America needs to be cautious and respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and can help by providing
weapons, technology and intelligence to tackle this terror that has troubled Nigeria and its neighbouring countries, while emphasising that the Cameroonian government will work towards arresting any terrorists spill over.
In a brief chat with a former security analyst for the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence, Professor Paul Moorcraft, he puts the chance of independent US military intervention at about 20 to 25 per cent. “Trump might intervene, despite his desire to win the Nobel peace prize,” he notes, adding that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) among others are keeping an eye on Boko Haram and the Islamic State activities and could just send in a few cruise missiles to hit arms depots and training camps.
“The Nigerian army has long lost control of North East Nigeria. Also the Americans are concerned about tribal murders of Christians in central Nigeria. The Evangelical base of Trump’s support had a lot to do with American support for predominantly Christian South Sudan. Same today.”
Prof. Moorcraft concludes by advising, “The Nigerian army has to be very diplomatic in courting US military backing for joint US-Nigerian assaults on Jihadist militias in north. But the problem is spread across the Sahel.”
Meanwhile, in another discussion with Ugandan journalist and international affairs analyst, Ronald Kato, he mentions that Trump’s statement should be seen in the same way as his ‘genocide’ of White farmers accusation against South Africa which was reckless and not backed by any evidence. “I think for Nigeria, Trump’s words are aimed more at his White Christian base than at Nigeria. He wants to be seen as the defender of Christians against Muslims.
“But I also think that the accusation is part of a campaign of pressure against Abuja for refusing to take in deportees. There could also be other strategies that Abuja and Washington don’t align on, hence the blackmail. The most obvious response is diplomacy. But as we have seen with Ramaphosa, diplomacy with Trump is hard to do.”
Kato further explains that, “Abuja can also choose to capitulate by agreeing to Washington’s demands such as the acceptance of deportees, or simply stand its ground and keep working to address the security situation which frankly has both Christians and Muslims as victims.”
It is clear that whatever decisions Nigeria decides to take eventually, one thing is certain it has to be quick and decisive. More importantly, the federal government has to be diplomatic in courting President Trump’s controversial proposal.
