United States President Donald Trump has claimed that American military strikes in Nigeria “largely ended” the killing of Christians in insurgency-affected areas, warning that Washington is prepared to launch more attacks if terrorist groups resume such violence.
Speaking at an event in Washington , Trump said the U.S. intervention had dealt a major blow to terrorists targeting Christian communities and served as a strong deterrent against further attacks.
“As you know, we recently struck Nigeria and largely ended the slaughter of great Christian populations,” Trump said.
“They have a great Christian population. They were being butchered—thousands and thousands of people were being killed, children, women, old people, just being slaughtered, hacked to death.”
The U.S. president said the strikes sent a clear message to terrorist groups that any renewed attacks would attract an even stronger military response.
“They know that if they go further, the attack will be far greater and that they don’t want to really get involved anymore so much,” he said.
“You know, we hit them very hard. We knocked out their leader. We knocked out their second leader and their third leader.”
Trump compared the military operation in Nigeria with recent U.S. action against Iran, saying both reflected Washington’s determination to eliminate security threats before they escalate.
“It sounds a little bit like Iran, actually. It’s all about a different cause that we have to do because we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let it happen,” he said.
He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting Christians and other vulnerable populations from extremist violence across the world.
“So I’m saving Christians throughout the world, even though we are not in those various countries where you read about this,” Trump said.
The U.S. president added that American forces would continue to pursue terrorist groups wherever they operate.
“But I’m saving them by hitting these terrorists very violently and very hard. We’re hitting them very hard by the greatest weapons on earth, taking them out.
“We know where they are. We hunt them down, and we take them out. They go into a village and they just kill everybody; it’s like crazy,” he added.
Trump also warned against threats to religious freedom, saying extremist groups sought to undermine religious institutions and democratic values.
His remarks come amid growing military cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in counter-terrorism operations.
In December 2025, the United States carried out a series of air strikes targeting ISIS terrorists in Sokoto State as part of its security collaboration with Nigeria.
In May 2026, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters announced that more than 20 ISIS/ISWAP fighters were killed during coordinated U.S.-Nigeria air strikes in Metele, Borno State.
Similarly, in June 2026, the Nigerian military, working with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), conducted another successful air strike in Arege, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, eliminating 21 ISWAP fighters.
The operations form part of ongoing efforts by Nigeria and its international partners to degrade the operational capabilities of ISIS-affiliated groups operating in the country’s North-East and North-West.
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