Trump Renews Threat on Nigeria as U.S. Africa Command Weighs Strike

Washington, D.C. —
U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed his warning against Nigeria, accusing the government of failing to curb Islamist militancy in the country’s northern region, while the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) reportedly drafts possible military options for intervention.

In a video message posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump criticized Nigeria’s handling of insurgency and alleged persecution of Christians, warning that the United States might be forced to take action if the situation continues unchecked.

“The Nigerian government better move fast before it’s too late,” Trump said. “If they don’t, there’s going to be hell to pay.”

According to a New York Times report, the Pentagon has received three proposed options from AFRICOM — categorized as light, medium, and heavy — outlining possible military responses in Nigeria. The light option involves partner-enabled operations where U.S. forces and the State Department would assist Nigerian security agencies in combating Boko Haram and other extremist groups responsible for years of violence, kidnappings, and attacks in the country’s north.

Defense officials emphasized that each proposal is designed to be escalatory, giving the White House varying degrees of engagement should it choose to act.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, responding to the renewed tension, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to protecting all faiths and maintaining religious harmony.

“The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu said. “We are committed to working with the U.S. and the international community to ensure peace and protect every Nigerian.”

Nigeria, a country of more than 230 million people split almost evenly between Christians and Muslims, has endured decades of ethno-religious violence, with over 20,000 deaths recorded since 2020, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). However, the organization noted that most attacks were not driven primarily by religion.

Trump’s comments sparked mixed reactions across global markets, briefly impacting Nigerian bond sales earlier in the week. Despite this, the government successfully raised $2.35 billion from international investors, with subscription orders exceeding $12 billion, reflecting continued investor confidence.

In the same statement, Trump also took aim at South Africa, questioning its inclusion in the G20 as it prepares to host the next summit in late November.

“South Africa shouldn’t even be in the Gs anymore, because what’s happened there is bad,” Trump said at a business forum in Miami.

Trump has a history of controversial remarks about South Africa, having previously made unverified claims of genocide against White farmers in the country.

The renewed U.S.–Nigeria tensions highlight the complex mix of diplomacy, religion, and security challenges shaping Africa’s geopolitical landscape as both nations weigh the next steps in their bilateral relations.