United States President Donald Trump placed Nigeria on a watchlist after watching a Fox News segment alleging widespread persecution of Christians in the country, according to a CNN report.
On Friday, Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” in response to claims of targeted attacks on Christians.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed,” he wrote on Truth Social, blaming radical Islamists for the “mass slaughter”.
“I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’,” he declared.
According to CNN, Trump was aboard ‘Air Force One’ en route to Florida when he saw the broadcast and reacted swiftly. The report said the president began posting on Truth Social shortly after landing in West Palm Beach.
The US leader reportedly remained focused on the situation throughout the weekend and instructed his defence secretary to “prepare for possible action”.
He also warned that US troops would enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” to protect Christians in the country.
CNN quoted a White House official as saying Trump had “been tracking this issue previously and had already begun thinking about Truthing it out”.
The report added that senior US government sources believe the president’s threats may be intended to “see how Nigeria responds”.
Following his announcement, personnel within the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) were said to have been urgently recalled to headquarters to review possible response options.
A small group of AFRICOM officials based in Germany were also summoned to discuss potential strategies.
A source cited by CNN described Trump’s comments as reflective of frustration over key policy issues being announced through social media without prior planning.
Nigeria’s federal government has consistently denied accusations of “Christian genocide” in the country, pushing back against similar US claims in the past.
