BREAKING: U.S. Mulls Action Over Targeted Attacks on Christians in Nigeria

• The U.S. is developing a plan to pressure Nigeria to protect Christian communities, including possible military engagement and sanctions, following warnings from President Donald Trump over alleged religious persecution.

The United States is drafting a proposal that could include military engagement in Nigeria, a senior State Department official revealed this week.

The discussion follows weeks after President Donald Trump threatened military action in Africa’s most populous country over alleged persecution of Christians by Islamic insurgent groups.

Jonathan Pratt, a senior bureau official for African Affairs at the State Department, told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that the administration may also escalate its pressure through sanctions or other non-military measures. “The Trump administration is developing a plan to incentivize and compel the Nigerian government to better protect Christian communities and improve religious freedom,” Pratt said.

The plan under consideration could involve U.S. State and Treasury engagement on sanctions, as well as potential Department of War action on counterterrorism and other protective measures for religious communities.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine recently met with a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu at the Pentagon. According to a Department of Defense readout, Hegseth stressed that Nigeria must demonstrate commitment and take urgent and enduring action to curb violence against Christians.

“The president has made his position clear,” said a White House official, highlighting long-standing violence in Nigeria by terrorist and extremist groups.

Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) told the subcommittee that while violence affects all communities, Christians are experiencing a systematic, targeted campaign.

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Earlier this month, President Trump issued a post on Truth Social warning that if Nigeria did not act, he might send troops “guns-a-blazing” to “completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.” He added, “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!”

The Nigerian government has denied the allegations, calling the U.S. characterization a “gross misrepresentation of reality.” President Bola Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria maintains religious tolerance, while acknowledging that security challenges affect citizens across all faiths and regions. He affirmed commitment to working with the U.S. and the international community to protect communities of all religions.