United States President Donald Trump has signalled that Washington could carry out additional military strikes in Nigeria if attacks on Christians persist, remarks published this week in an interview with The New York Times show.
Asked whether the U.S. operation on December 25 against Islamic State affiliated fighters in northwest Nigeria marked the opening of a wider campaign, Mr Trump said he hoped it would be a single response but warned: “I’d love to make it a one-time strike … but if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many time strike.”
The Christmas-day strike which U.S. officials said targeted Islamic State positions in Sokoto state was carried out at Abuja’s request, according to U.S. and Nigerian accounts.
Washington has described the action as aimed at degrading IS affiliates responsible for attacks in the region.
Nigerian government have pushed back against descriptions of the situation as a campaign of genocide against Christians, stressing that extremist violence in the country has affected communities of all faiths and that armed groups pursue mixed motives.
The government has underlined its willingness to work with international partners on counter-terrorism.
When a New York Times interviewer pointed to comments by a senior U.S. Africa adviser noting that groups such as Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram have also killed Muslims, Mr Trump accepted that Muslims had been victims too but maintained his view that Christians were principally targeted.
