In an explosive submit, Trump stated on social media on Saturday that he requested the Pentagon to map out a attainable plan of assault in Nigeria, sooner or later after warning that Christianity was “dealing with an existential risk” there.
Nigeria, which is nearly evenly divided between a Muslim-majority north and a largely Christian south, is embroiled in quite a few conflicts that consultants say have killed each Christians and Muslims with out distinction.
Nigeria would welcome US help in combating Islamist insurgents so long as its territorial integrity is revered, a Nigerian presidency spokesperson stated.
“FORCE A SIT-DOWN”
In his submit, Trump stated that if Nigeria doesn’t stem the killings, the US will assault and “it will likely be quick, vicious, and candy, identical to the terrorist thugs assault our CHERISHED Christians”.
A senior aide to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s, Daniel Bwala stated to AFP: “We all know that Donald Trump has his personal fashion of communication,” suggesting it was a method to “drive a sit-down between the 2 leaders to allow them to iron out a typical entrance to battle their insecurity”.
Earlier, Bwala had advised in a submit on X that the 2 leaders may meet quickly.
“As for the variations as as to if terrorists in Nigeria goal solely Christians or, the truth is, all faiths and no faiths, the variations, in the event that they exist, could be mentioned and resolved by the 2 leaders once they meet within the coming days, both in State Home or White Home”.
Bwala, who was talking on the cellphone from Washington, declined to reveal particulars of any potential assembly.
Trump posted on Friday, with out proof, that “hundreds of Christians are being killed (and) Radical Islamists are accountable for this mass slaughter.”
Nigeria has denied that Christians have been focused by jihadist assaults greater than different faiths.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously illiberal doesn’t replicate our nationwide actuality,” Tinubu stated on social media Saturday.
