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President Donald Trump The administration is gaining momentum this week in its fight against violence against Christians in Nigeria after Trump criticized the country's government for doing “nothing” to stop the killings.
“I’m very angry about this,” the president told Fox News Radio on Friday. “What is happening in Nigeria is a disgrace.”
military secretary Pete Hegseth met with Nigeria's national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu last week amid Trump's threats to cut off aid to Nigeria if it “continues to allow Christians to be killed.” Nigerian officials have denied the accusation.
“Hegseth emphasized the need for Nigeria to demonstrate commitment and take both immediate and long-term action to stop violence against Christians and expressed the Department's desire to work with, with and through Nigeria to deter and dismantle terrorists who threaten the United States.” The Pentagon said in the statement.
President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth are increasing pressure on Nigeria to stop killing Christians. (Will Oliver/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Jonathan Pratt, who heads the State Department's Bureau of African Affairs, also testified before Congress on Thursday and said any Pentagon intervention would be part of a broader strategy.
“This will extend from security to policing to the economy,” he said. “We want to look at all of these tools and develop a comprehensive strategy to achieve the best outcome.”
MILITARY ATTACKS CHURCH IN NIGERIA, KILLING TWO AND KIDNAPPING OTHERS
Nicki Minaj speaks during a panel discussion on “Combating Religious Violence and Killings of Christians in Nigeria” at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York on November 18, 2025. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)
Recent incidents in Nigeria included the mass abduction of over 300 children and 12 teachers from Catholic school on Friday, as well as a shooting at another church that left two people dead. The gunmen also abducted several parishioners from the church.
The main threat comes from the Islamist radical group Boko Haram, as well as its breakaway province, the Islamic State of West Africa. The groups primarily target Christians, although Muslims of other sects are also targeted.
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On Tuesday, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz hosted an event to address the ongoing violence in Nigeria. During the event, Walz called the killing of Christians in Nigeria “genocide in the guise of chaos.” He was joined by a rap superstar Nicki Minajwho called for religious freedom for all.
Fox News' Rachel Wolf and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
