U.S. President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday night doubled down on his stance on alleged genocide against Christians in Nigeria, saying the United States would stop all aid to Nigeria and possibly “go into that now-disgraced country, guns a-blazing” if the killing of Christians does not stop.
Trump threatened “to do things to Nigeria that Nigeria is not going to be happy about.”
In a broadcast from the White House, President Trump said the Nigerian government should “better move fast” and stop the killings “before it is too late,” otherwise, “they’re gonna be held to pay.”
According to the broadcast posted on the White House portal, Trump said: “If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria.
“We’re gonna do things to Nigeria that Nigeria is not gonna be happy about 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, horrible atrocities.
“I’m 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. These are cherished people. These are great people. Leave them alone.”
“The Nigerian government better move fast before it is too late. If they don’t, they gonna be held to pay.”
Last Friday, Trump put Nigeria back on a list of countries that the U.S. says have violated religious freedom. On Saturday (November 1), Trump upped the ante, saying he had asked the Defense Department to prepare for possible “fast” military action if Nigeria does not crack down on the killing of Christians.
Washington’s decision to designate Nigeria as a violator of religious freedoms has strained diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Nigeria’s government has rejected its designation by the United States as a “country of particular concern” over alleged religious freedom violations, saying the move was based on misinformation and faulty data.
Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede said on Monday that the country faced terrorism, not persecution of Christians, and the Nigerian Presidency has said it would welcome U.S. help in fighting Islamist insurgents as long as the country’s territorial integrity is respected.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris said terrorism affected both Christians and Muslims, and that the government is committed to ending extremist violence through military action, regional cooperation and dialogue with international partners.
