United States President Donald Trump has warned that Washington could carry out further military strikes in Nigeria if attacks linked to extremist groups continue, raising fresh concerns about the implications of foreign military involvement in the country’s internal security challenges.
Speaking in an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, Trump suggested that the US military action carried out on December 25 against Islamic State-linked fighters in northwest Nigeria may not be an isolated operation.
While expressing a preference for a limited intervention, he said the possibility of repeated strikes remained open if violence persists.
“I’d love to make it a one-time strike,” Trump said, adding that continued attacks attributed to extremist groups could prompt additional military action.
The Christmas Day operation, which Washington said was conducted at the request of the Nigerian government, drew international attention both for its timing and for the broader questions it raised about Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy and reliance on foreign support.
US officials described the strike as targeting Islamic State affiliates operating in the region, amid growing concerns over transnational extremist networks in West Africa.
Trump framed the operation as a response to what he characterised as persistent attacks on Christian communities, a description that has intensified debate among analysts and policymakers about the nature of violence in Nigeria.
While religious identity often features in narratives around the conflict, Nigerian authorities have consistently maintained that armed groups in the country operate with complex motives that cut across religious lines, including criminality, territorial control and economic interests.
When asked about assessments by his senior Africa adviser indicating that extremist violence in Nigeria has claimed more Muslim than Christian lives, Trump acknowledged that Muslims have also been victims.
However, he maintained that Christians were disproportionately targeted, a claim that has been disputed by Nigerian officials and independent security experts.
The Federal Government has firmly rejected allegations of a targeted genocide against Christians, stressing that insecurity in the country has affected communities of all faiths.
Officials have also warned that framing Nigeria’s security crisis solely along religious lines risks oversimplifying the conflict and undermining efforts at national cohesion.
In response to the US comments, government sources reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to working with international partners in combating terrorism, while emphasising the importance of respect for national sovereignty and coordinated engagement through established diplomatic and military channels.
The government has repeatedly stated that violence against civilians, regardless of religion or ethnicity, remains unacceptable.
Security analysts note that Trump’s remarks reflect a broader shift toward more assertive US foreign policy rhetoric, particularly in regions where American interests intersect with counterterrorism objectives.
However, they also caution that unilateral military actions, even when carried out with local consent, could complicate Nigeria’s internal security dynamics and diplomatic posture.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency, banditry and communal violence across several regions, the renewed attention from Washington highlights the delicate balance between international cooperation and domestic control over security operations.
How Abuja navigates this relationship in the coming months may shape both its counterterrorism strategy and its standing on the global stage.
