United States President Donald Trump has claimed that American military operations in Nigeria helped stop the killing of Christians in parts of the country affected by insurgency and extremist violence.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Summer-IDRI-Masterclass.jpg")
Trump made the claim on Friday while speaking at an event in Washington, where he highlighted his administration’s counterterrorism operations and security actions across different parts of the world.
According to the U.S. President, American involvement in Nigeria contributed to ending attacks against Christian communities, which he said had claimed the lives of thousands of people, including women, children and the elderly.
“As you know, we recently struck Nigeria and largely ended the slaughter of great Christian populations,” Trump said.
“They have a great Christian population. They were being butchered, butchered. Thousands and thousands of people were being killed, children, women, old people, just being slaughtered, hacked to death,” he added.
Trump claimed that those behind the attacks suffered major setbacks following the reported military operations, saying the strikes had weakened the leadership structure of the terrorists.
“They know that if they go further, the attack will be far greater and that they don’t want to really get involved anymore so much. We hit them very hard. We knocked out their leader. We knocked out their second leader and their third leader,” he said.
The U.S. President also compared the reported action in Nigeria to American military operations in Iran, saying both were tied to his administration’s broader security doctrine.
“It sounds a little bit like Iran, actually. It’s all about a different cause that we have to do because we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let it happen,” he said.
Trump further stated that his administration was committed to protecting Christians across the world, even in countries where the United States does not have a permanent military presence.
“So I’m saving Christians throughout the world, even though we are not in those various countries where you read about this,” he said.
He warned that extremist groups posed a wider threat to religious freedom, adding that his administration would continue to pursue terrorists wherever they operate.
“But I’m saving them by hitting these terrorists very violently and very hard. We’re hitting them very hard by the greatest weapons on earth, taking them out,” Trump said.
“We know where they are. We hunt them down, and we take them out. They go into a village and they just kill everybody. It’s like crazy,” he added.
Trump also accused extremists and communists of seeking to suppress religion, warning that such groups would attack churches and religious communities if not confronted.
“They will close your churches in this country. They go communist, and they’re trying to. They will kill your people, and that’s what they’re about. They want to end religion,” he said.
The remarks come against the backdrop of reported U.S.-Nigeria military cooperation against terrorist groups operating in parts of Northern Nigeria.
In December 2025, the United States reportedly launched air strikes against ISIS-linked terrorists in Sokoto State, North-West Nigeria.
In May, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters announced that more than 20 ISIS/ISWAP fighters were killed in multiple U.S.-Nigeria air strikes in Metele, Borno State.
In June, the Nigerian military, in collaboration with the United States Africa Command, also reportedly killed 21 ISWAP fighters in an air strike in Arege, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Trump’s comments are expected to generate further reactions, particularly because of the sensitive nature of Nigeria’s security crisis, which has affected communities across religious and ethnic lines in different parts of the country.
The book also examines Nigeria's legal ecosystem, focusing on the LPELR and NBA AI Guidelines. As a bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE eBook titled: How to Use the AI Features in LegalPedia and LawPavilion.
Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating:
"....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic."
How to Order:
📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
_______________________________________________________________________
“Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
