President Trump condemns ongoing killings of Christians in Nigeria and threatens repeated military action if attacks persist.
Trump directly condemned the mass slaughter of Christians by Islamist terrorists in northern Nigeria and issued a stark warning during his appearance at the World Economic Forum.
Trump spoke forcefully at the launch of his “Board of Peace” initiative, where he highlighted the crisis.
“Thousands and thousands of Christians are being massacred in Nigeria by terrorists,” he declared.
“We’ve hit them very hard. They will be hit very hard again.”
He referenced the U.S. airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day 2025 against Islamic State targets in northwest Nigeria’s Sokoto State.
Those precision strikes, coordinated with Nigerian authorities, targeted militant camps and killed multiple fighters.
Trump described the operation as decisive and suggested it served as a direct response to the violence against Christian communities.
However, fresh atrocities quickly underscored the urgency of his remarks.
Just days ago, armed gunmen stormed three churches during Sunday worship services in Kaduna State’s remote Kurmin Wali community.
Attackers abducted more than 160 worshippers—mostly Christians—according to church leaders, local officials, and police confirmations after initial denials.
While some victims escaped or were released, many remain in captivity.
Residents reported that dozens of militants arrived on motorcycles, rounded up congregants, and forced them into the bush.
These kidnappings fit a broader pattern of violence in Nigeria’s north and Middle Belt regions.
Bandits, Fulani herder militias, and jihadist groups linked to Islamic State or Boko Haram frequently raid villages, target churches, and demand ransoms or pursue ideological goals.
Christian advocacy organizations document thousands of deaths and widespread displacement over recent years, often framing the attacks as religious persecution.
Experts and Nigerian officials point out that the violence affects Muslims as well, driven by complex factors including resource disputes, poverty, criminality, and insurgency.
Despite these nuances, Trump’s comments spotlight the targeted suffering of Christian civilians and signal potential escalation in U.S. involvement.
The president made his position unmistakable. “I’d love to make it a one-time strike,” he added in follow-up statements.
“But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.”
As Nigeria grapples with persistent insecurity and international scrutiny intensifies, the world watches to see whether Trump’s threats translate into further action—or prompt stronger local efforts to protect vulnerable communities.
