Accra Mail
Getting ready for your Holy Audio person…
US President Donald Trump has stated that he has instructed the Pentagon to prepare for a potential military operation in Nigeria and that Washington may “immediately cease all support and help” to the West African nation unless it takes steps to put an end to the violence he claims target Christians.
In a statement on his social media platform, Mr. Trump accused “radical Jihadists” of slaying Christians in Nigeria and claimed that the United States “may pretty well go into that presently disgraced region, “blazing,” to completely eradicate the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these terrible atrocities. He continued,” I am now instructing our Department of War to plan for possible motion.”
The accusation comes after Mr. Trump made the decision to define Nigeria as a” Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act, which indicates that the US believes a government has committed or tolerated especially intense religious liberty transgressions. The title may serve as a precursor to sanctions, including restrictions on non-humanitarian support.
The characterization has been vehemently rejected by the Nigerian state. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, senator, said the title “does not reflect our national truth” and praised his administration’s efforts to advance the right to freedom of religion for all Nigerians. He added that his administration is working with the US and worldwide partners on the topic. In addition, Tinubu’s office and another Nigerian spokesmen have also emphasized that both Christians and Muslims are victims of violence in Nigeria and that the government’s security issues are brought on by a combination of insurgency, social clashes, and farmer-herder conflicts. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reiterated the need for Nigerian individuals to protect its citizens in response to Mr. Trump’s article and repeated that preparations were in progress. In addition to aggressive social problems in other areas, according to analysts and human rights organizations, Nigeria faces difficult security challenges from Boko Haram and IS-linked organizations in the northeast. Additionally, many Muslims have been killed in the government’s ongoing violence.
When contacted, the White House and the national press office in Nigeria did not immediately provide more information. The statement is a significant increase in language between Washington and Abuja, and it is possible to stoke serious diplomatic markets in the coming times.
