The Federal Government of Nigeria should not treat President Donald Trump’s idea of invading the country to ostensibly right the wrongs perpetrated against Christians with levity.
On November 2, 2025, President Trump reiterated his threat of a military operation in Nigeria over the reported killings of Christians and that he had instructed the Pentagon to prepare potential plans for action.
In an interview with an AFP correspondent aboard Air Force One, Trump said all options were on the table, including a possible ground offensive or air strikes.
His words: “Could be, I mean, a lot of things — I envisage a lot of things.
“They’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen.”
The interview came a day after Trump’s explosive post on his Truth Social platform, where he said “If Nigeria does not stem the killings, the United States will attack, and it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians.”
Whether Nigeria likes it or not, the United States of America has the strength to carry out its threat, whether successfully or otherwise.
Every Nigerian should recall that on October 31, 2020, during President Trump’s first term, he undertook a daring but special operation in Northern Nigeria to free just one American.
The operation was carried out by the Navy SEAL, America’s special elite squad, specifically charged with such daring attacks.
The 2020 operation was to rescue 27-year-old Philip Walton, an aid worker who had been kidnapped by terrorists who demanded $1million ransom for his release.
The Navy SEALs flew over 3,200 kilometres, landed in Nigeria’s territory, eliminated the terrorists and rescued Walton.
This operation was similar to how the Navy SEAL Team 6 flew into Pakistan to exterminate Al-Qaeda founder, Osama bin Laden, on May 2, 2011.
That time, bin Laden had hidden for six years in a walled compound in Abbottabad, about 48 kilometres north east of Islamabad. The SEALs raided his home after midnight and shot him several times.
The operation was widely regarded as one of the greatest successes in the U.S. “war on terrorism.”
However, Trump’s idea this time has a much wider dimension. How would the invaders decide where to look for the so-called killers of Christians and in which states?”
We state that an invasion by America will worsen Nigeria’s insecurity challenges as the Boko Haram and killer Fulani herdsmen will disperse further into the forests all over Nigeria in order to escape flying metal birds that will be dropping bombs on various local communities.
Undoubtedly, Trump’s contemplated invasion mission will be very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. We recall the examples of Libya and Iraq, two countries the US invaded decades ago and are still in ruins till date.
We believe the Federal Government should redouble its efforts to address the rising insecurity in the land, more so as President Bola Tinubu has just reshuffled Armed Forces Service Chiefs.
Hopefully, the new men must generate better ideas to win the war against the terrorists.
“…the Federal Government should redouble its efforts to address the rising insecurity in the land, more so as President Bola Tinubu has just reshuffled Armed Forces Service Chiefs.”