Nigeria discussing security with US after Trump threats – Minister

Nigeria is engaging in discussions with the United States after President Donald Trump issued threats of possible U.S. military action in response to the killing of Christian citizens by jihadist groups, the country’s foreign minister said on Monday.

Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, speaking in Abuja, explained that the talks with Washington focus on ways both nations can work together to confront the security problems affecting Nigeria—problems he described as having implications that stretch far beyond the country’s borders. Tuggar emphasized that the conversations were centered on cooperation rather than confrontation, saying the shared objective is addressing threats that matter globally.

Earlier in November, Trump had announced that he instructed the Pentagon to prepare options for a potential strike on Nigeria, claiming that extremist groups were killing Christians “in very large numbers.” In his comments, he suggested that the situation posed an acute danger to Christianity in the region and warned that if Nigerian authorities failed to halt the violence, the U.S. would act militarily and that such action would be, in his words, swift and forceful.

When asked if he believed the United States was seriously considering launching an attack, Tuggar dismissed the idea. He said he did not expect the scenario to unfold, pointing out that diplomatic conversations between the two nations were ongoing and had already moved beyond the initial rhetoric.

Nigeria, a nation of around 230 million people, is split between a largely Christian population in the southern regions and a mostly Muslim population in the north. The country continues to grapple with multiple security crises, including long-running jihadist rebellions. These insurgent groups have targeted communities across religious lines, killing Muslims and Christians alike and fueling instability across several states.

Source: Vanguard