By Segun Martins-
US president, Donald Trump, has instructed the Department of War to prepare for possible action in Nigeria in response to anti- Christian violence.
Trump also said in a social media post on Saturday that he would immediately cut off all assistance to the African country ”if the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians”. The US ”may very well go into that now disgraced country guns blazing to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities”, the American president added.
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”I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING:THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!’, he wrote. Human rights groups have urged the Nigerian government to do more and address unrest in the country.
A few hours before Trump’s threat, Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu released a statement stressing that his government ”continues to address security challenges which affects citizens across faiths and religion”
”The administration of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians”, Tinubu said on Saturday.
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Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths, the statement continued.
”our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation of all faiths”.
Trump’s comment came weeks after US Sen Ted Cruz urged Congress to designate Africa’s most populous country as a violator of religious freedom with claims of mass murder”.
Nigeria is an amorphous country with many complex problems across its 36 states. Attacks in the country are varied in its motives. Some are religiously motivated targeting Christians, others target both Christians and Muslims, and some clashes are between farmers and herders. Some attacks targeting Christians in the past include multiple killings in a church in Southern Nigeria in 2023
The country is clearly riddled by wide ranging violence that includes a jihadist insurgency masterminded by extremist group Boko Haram, which has been in the northeast since 2009. There are no clear reasons why these insurgents act under the name of a religion which we are always reminded is meant to be peaceful, and why different faith groups cannot practise their religion in peace without having to involve violence purely on the basis of different religious beliefs.
Religious tensions in the country has also led to school authorities being dragged to court rooms over the contested rights of their students to wear the hijab in schools.
There are also deep seated ethnic rivalries that account for many of the bloodshed that occurs in Africa’s rich oil nation, which is also one of the continent’s most troubled country.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised the commitment of Nigeria to protect all its citizens.
”The Nigerian government continues to protect all its citizens irrespective of race, creed or religion. Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength”
Tinubu said his administration has taken steps to maintain ” an open and active engagement with Christians and Muslims leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affects citizens across faiths and religions”. He added that he was committed to working with the U.S and the international community to deepen understanding and co-operation on protection of communities of all faiths”.
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