U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Washington could conduct further military strikes in Nigeria if what he described as the k!lling of Christians in the country continues.
Trump made the remarks in an interview with The New York Times when asked whether the Christmas Day missile strikes against Islamic State militants signalled the start of a broader military campaign. The strikes followed Trump’s earlier threat to send troops into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing to wipe out the terrorists k!lling our cherished Christians,” amid claims by some U.S. politicians that Christians were facing genocide in the West African nation.
The Nigerian government, however, maintained control over the incident, with Ademola Oshodi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, describing it as a one-off event.
Trump suggested more military action could follow, telling the Times: “I’d love to make it a one-time strike. But if they continue to k!ll Christians it will be a many-time strike.”
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected allegations of targeted Christian k!llings. Last October, Trump’s senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos, said Boko Haram and ISIS were responsible for more Muslim deaths than Christian ones.
Asked about Boulos’ remarks, Trump responded: “I think that Muslims are being k!lled also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians.” Following the strikes, flight-tracking data indicated that U.S. intelligence and surveillance activities in Nigeria had resumed.
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