Nigeria Welcomes US Intervention Against Islamic Extremism

Nigeria expressed on Sunday its support for US intervention aimed at combating Islamic extremist groups that target and persecute Christians in various African nations.

Daniel Bwala, an advisor to President Bola Tinubu, mentioned that the nation would be open to US assistance in fighting these terrorist groups, provided that Nigeria’s sovereignty is maintained. This comes after former President Donald Trump suggested the deployment of US troops to Nigeria if the country doesn’t take stronger action against organizations like Boko Haram.

“We welcome US help, as long as we respect our territorial integrity,” Bwala noted. He made his remarks during an interview, emphasizing the importance of autonomy while seeking external support.

In a recent social media post, Trump threatened to cut off aid to nations that fail to protect Christians, stating that Open Doors—an organization that monitors the persecution of Christians—estimates around 3,100 Christians have been killed in Nigeria alone this year. This figure contributes to a wider total of approximately 4,476 Christians killed globally so far in 2025.

“If the Nigerian government continues to permit the assassination of Christians, the US may sever all aid and be compelled to intervene militarily to eliminate these terrorists committing these atrocious acts,” Trump declared. He added, “I instruct the War Department to prepare for potential action.”

Boko Haram stands out as a prominent domestic terrorist organization with a long history of assaults on Christians, especially in Nigeria’s northern regions.

Email inquiries for comment from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense went unanswered.