Trump's week in review: Cuts TPS status for South Sudan; Nigerian pres. responds to threat over Christian persecution
1. Trump threatens to strike Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu responds
Following Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern last week over its ongoing violations of religious freedom, the president suggested that additional action against the African country was possible in a Truth Social post.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and 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,” he vowed. “I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!”
United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth shared Trump’s Truth Social statement in an X post, declaring, “The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria — and anywhere — must end immediately.”
He added, “The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
In response to his country’s designation as a CPC, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu pushed back on assertions that his country inadequately responds to religiously motivated attacks. “Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions,” he asserted. “The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality.”
Tinubu further claimed that his country has made “consistent and sincere efforts” to “safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians” and expressed a desire to work with the U.S. and other international bodies “to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths.”
Many groups that monitor incidents of persecution disagree, however. The Christian Post has also long documented the killings of Christians in that nation.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
