By Amofokhai Williams
The United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, has reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s warning that Washington is prepared to take military action against terrorist groups in Nigeria if the government fails to stop the killing of Christians.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Hegseth wrote: “Yes sir. The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria — and anywhere — must end immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
Hegseth’s statement came hours after President Trump threatened to halt U.S. aid to Nigeria and possibly authorise a “fast, vicious, and sweet” military intervention to eliminate Islamic extremists allegedly responsible for violence against Christians.
The strong remarks have sparked global concern, signalling escalating U.S. pressure on Abuja to address persistent religiously motivated killings.
Hegseth’s language, invoking imminent military preparations and explicitly promising lethal action, raises immediate questions about legal authorisations, rules of engagement and oversight.
Any U.S. operation on foreign soil would normally require interagency clearance, legal review and coordination with Congress or appropriate authorities; officials have yet to outline what statutory or diplomatic steps would underpin the threat.
Regional partners and international organisations are likely to watch closely, wary that public threats of unilateral force could inflame tensions and complicate ongoing efforts to address violence in Nigeria through diplomacy, intelligence-sharing and security assistance.
Humanitarian agencies may also be concerned about the potential for civilian harm and disruption to aid operations if military action were to be contemplated.
For its part, Abuja has repeatedly denied tolerating mass, faith-based killings and is expected to press Washington for clarification and engagement rather than escalation.
