United States President Donald Trump has claimed that recent American military strikes in Nigeria helped halt attacks on Christian communities by terrorists.
Trump made the remarks during an event in Washington, D.C., over the weekend, where he said the operation targeted the leadership of a terrorist group allegedly responsible for the killings of Christians in parts of Nigeria.
According to the US President, the strikes dealt a major blow to the group and significantly reduced the violence.
“As you know, we recently struck Nigeria and largely ended the slaughter of great Christian populations,” Trump said.
“They have a great Christian population. They were being butchered. Thousands and thousands of people were being killed, children, women, old people, just being slaughtered, hacked to death.”
Trump claimed the operation eliminated key figures within the terrorist organisation, including its leader and senior commanders.
“We hit them very hard. We knocked out their leader. We knocked out their second leader and their third leader,” he said.
He added that the strikes served as a warning to the group against carrying out further attacks.
“They know that if they go further, the attack will be far greater, and they don’t want to really get involved anymore so much,” he stated.
The US President compared the alleged operation in Nigeria to recent American military action against Iran, saying both reflected his administration’s approach to confronting major security threats.
“It sounds a little bit like Iran, actually. It’s all about a different cause that we have to do because we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let it happen,” Trump said.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting Christians globally and pursuing terrorist groups wherever they operate.
“So I’m saving Christians throughout the world, even though we are not in those various countries where you read about this,” he said.
Also Read: INEC Yet To Receive Funds For 2027 Elections, Says Preparations Are Already Underway
Trump also vowed that the United States would continue using military force against terrorist organisations.
“But I’m saving them by hitting these terrorists very violently and very hard. We’re hitting them very hard by the greatest weapons on earth, taking them out.
“We know where they are. We hunt them down, and we take them out. They go into a village and they just kill everybody. It’s like crazy,” he added.
The US President further warned against what he described as growing threats to religious freedom, alleging that extremist and communist forces were seeking to undermine religion.
“They will close your churches in this country. They go communist, and they’re trying to. They will kill your people, and that’s what they’re about. They want to end religion,” Trump said.
Trump’s comments come amid ongoing security concerns in parts of Nigeria, although he did not provide specific details about the alleged US military operation or when it took place.