<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>US President </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="_blank" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span> said on the weekend he has ordered the Defence Department to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria as he continues to accuse the nation of not doing enough to stem violence against Christians – an accusation Nigeria has repeatedly denied.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a social media post criticising what he called the "mass slaughter" of Christians in the country, Trump </span><a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115476385101120405" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><span>wrote</span></a><span> the United States would "immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria" and warned the government there to "move fast."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the lengthy message, Trump said the US "may very well go into that now disgraced country, 'guns-a-blazing,' to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities."</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/british-police-say-multiple-people-were-stabbed-on-a-train-near-cambridge-and-2-individuals-arrested/0f8497e4-a984-4b4f-b94f-875fe955340d" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>UK train stabbing suspect released as 'hero' fights for life</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Both Christians and Muslims have been victims of attacks by radical Islamists in the country of more than 230 million people. The violence in the country is driven by varying factors: some incidents are religiously motivated and affect both groups, while others arise from disputes between farmers and herders over limited resources, as well as communal and ethnic tensions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Although Christians are among those targeted, local reports indicate that most victims are Muslims living in Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action," Trump wrote.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-orders-pentagon-to-prepare-for-war-in-nigeria/8f2e241e-e5bb-467d-8a4b-fa501e379026" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/two-new-suspects-handed-preliminary-charges-in-louvre-jewels-heist-case-paris-prosecutor-says/98222bd9-9b82-46a2-80c5-40964b52137e" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Two new suspects charged over Louvre jewels heist</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Yes sir," US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth posted on social media with a screenshot of Trump's comments.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/three-arrested-over-alleged-kidnapping-auburn-sydney/9551dcf8-644a-434e-a6a5-f9ddf5730343" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Three arrested over alleged kidnapping in Sydney</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump's announcement comes after he accused Nigeria of religious freedom violations on Friday, claiming that "Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria" and designating the nation as a "Country of Particular Concern" under the </span><a href="https://www.state.gov/frequently-asked-questions-irf-report-and-countries-of-particular-concern" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><span>International Religious Freedom Act</span></a><span>. The label is a suggestion that his administration has found that Nigeria has engaged in or tolerated "systematic, ongoing, (and) egregious violations of religious freedom."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a social media post after the designation, but before Trump's mention of the military, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu </span><a href="https://x.com/officialabat/status/1984640117361840491?s=46" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><span>wrote</span></a><span>: "The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He added that Nigeria is "working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tinubu's press secretary, responding to a social media post from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemning the "slaughter of thousands of Christians," called the characterisation "a gross exaggeration of the Nigerian situation," adding that "Christians, Muslims, churches and mosques are attacked randomly."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What our country requires from America is military support to fight these violent extremists in some states of our country, not designation as a nation of particular concern," said Bayo Onanuga.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Spokespersons for the White House and Tinubu's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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