The threat by former U.S. President Donald Trump to invade Nigeria if the government continues to allow the killing of Christians has stirred widespread reactions. For those who have suffered from attacks by Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other terrorist groups, such a threat may sound like a promise of rescue.
However, not only Christians have been victims — many Muslims have also lost their lives to terrorists. These extremists do not defend religion; they exploit it to achieve political power. For instance, in Afghanistan, the Taliban seized control in the name of religion but were truly driven by political ambitions, leaving the nation in poverty and conflict.
In Nigeria, the situation is more complicated due to the mixture of ethnic and religious tensions. In the Northeast, insurgents seek to establish an Islamic caliphate, while in the Middle Belt, ethnic conflicts over land and resources continue to cause bloodshed.
If the United States were to launch a military attack, how would it distinguish between Christians and Muslims without plunging the country into civil war? Such intervention could ignite a conflict with no clear boundaries.
What Nigeria truly needs is not foreign invasion but support — in security strategy, intelligence, and equipment — to defeat terrorism. Trump’s threat should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria’s leaders and security agencies to defend the nation’s sovereignty and dignity.
