Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
United States President Donald Trump has vowed to authorise further military strikes against terrorist targets in Nigeria if attacks on Christians continue.
Trump made the statement during an interview with The New York Times (NYT), while responding to a question on whether recent missile strikes against the Islamic State terror group signalled the beginning of a broader military campaign.
The United States had, on Christmas Day 2025, carried out airstrikes on terror targets in Sokoto State and other parts of northern Nigeria.
However, Nigeria’s Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs, Ademola Oshodi, said the Nigerian government maintained control over decision-making related to the single operation.
Following the strikes, Trump suggested that further action could be taken and reiterated that position in the NYT interview published on Thursday.
“I’d love to make it a one-time strike,” Trump said.
“But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.”
The Nigerian government has consistently dismissed claims that Christians are being deliberately targeted for killings in the country.
In October, Trump’s senior adviser on Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos, stated that extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS were killing more Muslims than Christians in Nigeria.
When asked about his adviser’s remarks, Trump responded: “I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians.”
