U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that his administration may cut off aid to Nigeria if killings of Christians and mass abductions continue across the country.
Trump, speaking on Fox News Radio on Friday, accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of “doing nothing” to halt the rising wave of religiously targeted violence.
“I’m really angry about it. What’s happening in Nigeria is a disgrace,” he said during the interview.
The warning followed heightened diplomatic activity between Washington and Abuja. War Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, last week amid concerns from the Trump administration about escalating attacks on Christian communities.
According to the Pentagon, Hegseth “emphasized the need for Nigeria to demonstrate commitment and take both urgent and enduring action to stop violence against Christians” while expressing readiness to work with Nigerian security agencies to deter extremist threats.
Also on Thursday, Jonathan Pratt, Head of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, appeared before the U.S. Congress, stressing that any Pentagon involvement would form part of a wider U.S. strategy.
“This would span from security to policing to economic,” Pratt said. “We want to look at all of these tools and have a comprehensive strategy to get the best result possible.”
The tensions come as violent attacks surge across multiple Nigerian states. In Kebbi State, 25 female students were abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, on November 17.
Just four days later, armed men stormed St Mary’s Girls’ School in Papiri, Agwara LGA of Niger State, kidnapping no fewer than 300 students in an early-morning raid.
The Kebbi attack also left the school’s Chief Security Officer and Vice Principal dead.
In Kwara State, Eruku town was thrown into panic on Tuesday evening after masked gunmen invaded a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) branch during a service. Five worshippers were killed instantly, and several others were kidnapped. A viral video from the scene confirmed that the attackers seized multiple congregants, including the officiating pastor.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen opened fire immediately after entering the church, forcing many worshippers to flee while others were taken into the nearby bush.
The recent surge in violence has triggered renewed international scrutiny, with Trump’s comments adding pressure on the Tinubu administration as security concerns deepen nationwide.