Trump vows military action, Nigeria rejects Christian mass killing claims

U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a heavy-handed stance against Africa’s most populous nation.

Trump has vowed to carry out swift military action in Nigeria if the government there fails to crack down on claims made by Trump, that its Christian population is being subjected to targeted, mass killings.

On Saturday shortly after Trump made the threat, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the department of war is preparing for action.

The Nigerian government has pushed back, refuting the claims that any kind of persecution is taking place and insisting it that the U.S. must respect its sovereignty.

Nigeria has been re-added to the United States’ list of countries of “particular concern,” over its alleged violations of religious freedoms, joining the likes of North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia among others.