BREAKING: Trump orders U.S Department of War to prepare for possible military attack in Nigeria

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said he had instructed the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria and warned that any strike “will be fast, vicious, and sweet,” escalating a diplomatic confrontation over violence against Christians in the West African country.

In a post on his social media platform, the president said he was directing the U.S. “Department of War” to prepare for possible action and threatened to immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria unless the government moved quickly to stop attacks on Christian communities. The statement singled out Islamist militant groups accused of carrying out deadly attacks in parts of the country.

“I am 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,” Mr. Trump wrote, according to media reports. The remarks drew swift attention from diplomats and rights groups, and raised questions about the legal and political pathway for any U.S. military intervention on Nigerian soil.

Nigeria’s presidency rejected the characterization of the country as tolerating religious persecution. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government said it was committed to protecting all citizens and urged partners to engage constructively rather than resort to threats. Nigerian officials stressed that violence in the country takes many forms and that victims have included both Christians and Muslims.

Analysts and rights organisations say Nigeria faces a complex mix of security challenges — from Boko Haram and Islamic State–linked cells in the northeast to communal and banditry-related violence in the central states — and that an effective response requires sustained cooperation with Nigerian authorities rather than a purely military approach. Legal experts also noted that any U.S. use of force abroad would face domestic and international legal constraints and would likely require detailed planning and congressional engagement.

The president’s warning comes amid mounting pressure from some U.S. lawmakers and advocacy groups who have accused Nigerian authorities of failing to curb attacks on Christian communities. At the same time, diplomatic sources cautioned that a unilateral U.S. strike would risk severe regional fallout and could complicate wider security partnerships in West Africa.