Peter Brian Hegseth, the United States Secretary of Defense, has confirmed that the Department of War is making preparations for invasion of Nigeria.
Hegseth’s confirmation came on Saturday shortly after President Donald Trump accused the Nigerian government of allowing what he described as the continued massacre of Christians—an allegation the Nigerian authorities have repeatedly and firmly denied.
In a strongly worded statement, President Trump declared that the United States “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.”
Responding to the president’s remarks, Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed Washington is already preparing for the invasion, saying, “Yes, sir. 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 eliminate the Islamic terrorists responsible for these atrocities.”
Meanwhile, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rejected what he described as unfounded allegations of a Christian genocide in the country. He reiterated Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.
In a statement personally signed on Friday, President Tinubu dismissed President Trump’s claim of an existential threat to Christianity in Nigeria, asserting that such portrayals “do not reflect our national reality.” He emphasised that “Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” Tinubu said.
The Nigerian leader further noted that his administration continues to engage openly with both Christian and Muslim leaders in addressing the broader security challenges affecting Nigerians across all regions and faiths.
“Our administration remains committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation in protecting communities of all faiths,” he added.
Similarly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to combating violent extremism, which it said has been “fueled by vested interests that have driven division and instability across the intersecting West African and Sahel regions.”
“We mourn all the victims of violent extremism and salute our armed forces as they continue to confront these vicious but cowardly foes,” the ministry said.