President Donald Trump has indicated that the United States could carry out further military strikes in Nigeria if attacks against Christians continue. The comments were made in an interview published on January 8, 2026, in which Trump discussed Washington’s Christmas Day airstrike in northwest Nigeria. He said he had hoped the operation would be a one time action but warned that continued killings could lead to more strikes.
The Christmas Day strike was described by U.S. officials as targeting Islamic State militants and was reportedly carried out at the request of the Nigerian government. Nigerian authorities have stressed that the operation was jointly authorised, focused strictly on counter terrorism, and not directed at any religious group. Trump, however, reiterated his view that Christians are being disproportionately targeted, a claim the Nigerian government has rejected.
Nigeria is almost evenly split between Christians and Muslims, with Christians largely in the south and Muslims dominant in the north. The government has repeatedly denied allegations of systematic persecution of Christians, insisting that violence by extremist groups affects both faiths. Officials have also emphasised the importance of respecting Nigeria’s sovereignty in any security cooperation with foreign partners.
The developments come amid Nigeria’s prolonged security crisis, marked by attacks from Islamist extremist groups, banditry, and kidnappings across several northern regions. Trump’s remarks have drawn mixed reactions, with some welcoming international support against terrorism, while others warn that further U.S. strikes could complicate Nigeria’s internal security efforts and diplomatic relations.
