US Defence Secretary Says War Department Ready for Military Action in Nigeria

ByEditor

Nov 3, 2025 #Boko Haram, #Nigeria Christian killings, #Pete Hegseth, #religious freedom Nigeria, #Trump Nigeria, #US Defence Secretary, #US military threat

Femi Ashekun/

United States Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has said the War Department is ready to take military action against Islamic extremists in Nigeria if the government fails to stop the killing of Christians.

In a post on X on Sunday, Hegseth declared that Washington “is preparing for action”, insisting that the killing of Christians in Nigeria “must end immediately.”

“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,” he wrote.

Hegseth’s remarks echo recent comments by US President Donald Trump, who warned that he was considering “air strikes and ground troops” to “completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists killing Christians in Nigeria.”

The threat comes as the United States Congress considers amendments to the International Religious Freedom Act, which would officially designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for alleged “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”

The bill also lists Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa as “Entities of Particular Concern.”

The proposed designation is rooted in section 402(b)(1)(A) of the International Religious Freedom Act 1998 and section 301(a) of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act 2016.

It could result in sanctions, restrictions on military assistance, or other punitive measures against Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu’s government has dismissed the accusations, insisting that religious freedom is guaranteed under Nigeria’s constitution.

The government claims the violence stems from terrorism, banditry, and communal conflict rather than persecution based on faith.

Nigeria has struggled for over a decade with extremist violence led by Boko Haram and its splinter group, ISIS-West Africa. The insurgency, concentrated in the country’s north-east, has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since 2009.

Analysts warn that Hegseth’s statement marks a significant escalation in Washington’s rhetoric.