US President Donald Trump has ordered the Defense Department to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria, continuing his repeated accusations that the nation has failed to prevent violence against Christians, claims that Nigeria has denied.

In a social media post criticizing what he described as the “mass slaughter” of Christians in the country, Trump stated that the United States would “immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria.”

Trump added that 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.”

"If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and 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. I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. 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!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Both Christians and Muslims have been victims of attacks by radical Islamist groups in Nigeria. The violence is driven by multiple factors: some incidents are religiously motivated, while others stem from disputes between farmers and herders over resources, as well as communal and ethnic tensions.

“Yes sir,” US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth posted on social media, sharing a screenshot of Trump’s comments. “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.” Trump said.

The announcement came after Nigeria was designated a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act by the Trump administration. Trump has accused the country of committing religious freedom violations and claimed that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.”

This designation suggests that the administration has found evidence of “systematic, ongoing, (and) egregious violations of religious freedom.”

Outrightly rejecting allegations of religious violence, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu defended his country's efforts to protect religious freedom.

"The characterization 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," Tinubu said in a statement, citing "constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths."

Tinubu 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.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the “slaughter of thousands of Christians" in Nigeria.

Tinubu’s press secretary called the characterization “a gross exaggeration of the Nigerian situation,” noting that “Christians, Muslims, churches and mosques are attacked randomly.” “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,” Bayo Onanuga said.