United States President, Donald Trump, has hinted at the possibility of further military strikes in Nigeria if attacks on Christians continued, following a US operation carried out in the country on Christmas Day.
In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, Trump was asked whether the December 25 military strike against Islamic State militants in North-West Nigeria marked the start of a broader campaign.
“I’d love to make it a one-time strike,” he said. “But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.”
The US strike, which Washington described as targeting Islamic State affiliates at the request of the Nigerian government, attracted global attention when it was conducted on Christmas Day.
Trump framed the operation as a response to what he described as “repeated killings of Christians” by extremist groups in Nigeria, a characterisation that has stirred debate over the motives behind the intervention.
When asked about comments from his senior Africa adviser that groups like Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram had killed more Muslims than Christians, Trump acknowledged that both faith communities have suffered heavy losses.
“I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria,” he said. “But it’s mostly Christians.”
The Federal Government, however, has repeatedly rejected suggestions of a targeted genocide against Christians. Officials insisted that violent armed groups in the country operate with mixed motives and have attacked both Muslims and Christians across Nigeria’s troubled northern region.
