United States (US) President Donald Trump has renewed threats of possible further U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria, claiming that attacks on Christians could trigger additional military action, even while acknowledging that Muslims are also victims of terrorism in the country.
Trump made the remarks during an interview with The New York Times while responding to questions about a Christmas Day U.S. military strike in Nigeria, which Washington said targeted Islamic State militants operating in the northwest.
According to Reuters, Trump warned that the United States could carry out more strikes if what he described as killings of Christians persist.
“I’d love to make it a one-time strike … But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike,” Trump was quoted as saying.
The U.S. military had earlier explained that the Christmas Day operation was conducted at the request of the Nigerian government and was aimed at Islamic State fighters. Nigerian authorities also confirmed at the time that the strike was a joint operation against terrorists and stressed that it was not motivated by religion.
Nigeria’s Federal Government has consistently rejected claims that Christians are being systematically persecuted, insisting that extremist groups have targeted citizens across religious lines.
When asked about comments from his own Africa adviser, who reportedly noted that Islamic State and Boko Haram militants have killed more Muslims than Christians, Trump conceded that Muslims are also victims of the violence.
“I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians,” he said.
Trump had earlier, in late October, warned that Christianity was facing what he called an “existential threat” in Nigeria and suggested that the United States could intervene militarily if the Nigerian government failed to curb attacks on Christian communities.
Nigeria, however, maintains that its security challenges—ranging from Islamist insurgency in the North to banditry and kidnappings—are complex and not driven by religious persecution. The Federal Government has repeatedly emphasized that both Muslims and Christians have suffered heavy casualties from terrorist violence.