Breaking: Tension as Trump Threatens Military Action In Nigeria after Tinubu's Response
- President Donald Trump of the United States has ordered the US Defence Department to prepare for a possible military operation in Nigeria
- The US president's directive came hours after Nigerian president Bola Tinubu reacted to his earlier allegation
- Trump earlier alleged that Nigeria had become religiously intolerant and that Christianity was under threat
Donald Trump, the president of the United States, has directed the Defence Department to prepare for potential military action in Nigeria if the government "continues to allow the killing of Christians."
Trump also disclosed that the US government would immediately stop all assistance and aid to Nigeria. The US president made the claim on Saturday, November 1.
Source: Twitter
Trump hints at deploying military to Nigeria
According to Reuters, Trump maintained that the U.S may "very well go into that "now disgraced country", 'guns-a-blazing,' with the aim of completely wiping out the Islamic terrorists, whom he said have been committing the atrocities.
This came hours after President Tinubu personally reacted to the allegation of Trump that Nigeria was now religiously intolerant and named the nation among the “countries of particular concern”.
Trump, on Friday, October 31, raised the allegation against Nigeria, claiming that Christians are facing an "existential threat" in the West African country. He alleged that thousands of Christians are being killed in the country by some "radical Islamist".
Tinubu reacts to Trump's allegation
In his reaction to Trump's claim in a tweet on Saturday, November 1, President Tinubu told the United States president that Nigeria is a democratic country where the constitution remains its guide, protects and guarantees the people's freedom of religion.
Tinubu's statement reads in part:
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty."
The president further noted that his government has been actively engaging Muslim and Christian leaders in the country and that he will not relent in his fight against the security challenges confronting Nigeria as they affect every religion.
Tinubu rejects Trump's claim
President Tinubu then rejected the allegation of the US president, stressing that Nigeria did not encourage religious persecution and that its diversity has remained its symbol of national unity.
The CPC is referring to a country designated by the United States Secretary of State (under the delegated authority from the president), which is involved in systemic severe violations of religious freedom under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998 (H.R. 2431) and its amendment of 1999 (Public Law 106-55).
For over a decade, Nigeria has been confronted with the challenges of terrorism. The insecurity has stretched to banditry and kidnapping, beyond the northeast, where the Boko Haram terrorists first started their operation.
Source: Twitter
Foreign ministry reacts to Trump's claim
Legit.ng earlier reported that Nigeria's Foreign ministry commented on the claim that Nigerian Christians were being killed in massive proportions.
According to the government ministry, the claim by the United States President Donald Trump did not reflect the reality on the ground.
US President Donald Trump claimed that there were widespread killings of Christians in Nigeria.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
