US President Donald Trump has warned that he could order more airstrikes on Nigeria if Christians continue to be killed in the West African nation.
In a wide-ranging interview with the New York Times, Trump was asked whether the Christmas Day strikes in Nigeria's northern Sokoto state, targeting Islamist militants, were part of a broader military campaign.
I'd love to make it a one-time strike. But if they continue to kill Christians it will be a many-time strike, he said.
Nigeria's government has rejected Trump's earlier accusations that it is failing to protect Christians from jihadist attacks, stating that Muslims, Christians and those of no faith alike are targeted.
Claims of genocide against Nigeria's Christians began circulating last year in some right-wing US circles, but organizations monitoring political violence in Nigeria say that most victims of jihadist groups are Muslims.
When questioned about this in the interview published on Thursday, Trump responded: I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it's mostly Christians.
Nigeria's population of over 230 million is roughly evenly divided among Christians, who predominate in the south, and Muslims, largely in the north.
For the past 15 years, the north-east of the country has suffered from a devastating Islamist insurgency led by groups such as Boko Haram and those affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group based in Borno state.
Lakurawa, the jihadist group targeted in the US Christmas Day strikes, is located in Sokoto, a largely Muslim state. However, both the US and Nigerian officials have clarified that the operation was a joint initiative involving Nigeria's military.
The strikes were reportedly not related to the Christmas holiday, despite Trump's characterization of them as a Christmas present. The situation continues to evolve, and the international community watches closely as Nigeria grapples with its complex security challenges.
In a wide-ranging interview with the New York Times, Trump was asked whether the Christmas Day strikes in Nigeria's northern Sokoto state, targeting Islamist militants, were part of a broader military campaign.
I'd love to make it a one-time strike. But if they continue to kill Christians it will be a many-time strike, he said.
Nigeria's government has rejected Trump's earlier accusations that it is failing to protect Christians from jihadist attacks, stating that Muslims, Christians and those of no faith alike are targeted.
Claims of genocide against Nigeria's Christians began circulating last year in some right-wing US circles, but organizations monitoring political violence in Nigeria say that most victims of jihadist groups are Muslims.
When questioned about this in the interview published on Thursday, Trump responded: I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it's mostly Christians.
Nigeria's population of over 230 million is roughly evenly divided among Christians, who predominate in the south, and Muslims, largely in the north.
For the past 15 years, the north-east of the country has suffered from a devastating Islamist insurgency led by groups such as Boko Haram and those affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group based in Borno state.
Lakurawa, the jihadist group targeted in the US Christmas Day strikes, is located in Sokoto, a largely Muslim state. However, both the US and Nigerian officials have clarified that the operation was a joint initiative involving Nigeria's military.
The strikes were reportedly not related to the Christmas holiday, despite Trump's characterization of them as a Christmas present. The situation continues to evolve, and the international community watches closely as Nigeria grapples with its complex security challenges.
