U.S DEPT OF WAR IS PREPARING FOR ACTION- Says U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the “Department of War is preparing for action” in Nigeria if the Nigerian government fails to protect Christians amid reports of violence in the country.
Hegseth’s post came after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had asked the department to prepare for possible “fast” military action in the West African country.
“Yes, sir. 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,” Hegseth said in a post responding to Trump’s statement.
Before Trump posted his attack threat, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier on Saturday pushed back against claims of religious intolerance and defended his country’s efforts to protect religious freedom.
Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry, in a separate statement, vowed to keep fighting violent extremism and said it hoped Washington would remain a close ally, saying it “will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion. Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength.”
On Friday (October 31), Nigeria was placed on the U.S. “Countries of Particular Concern” list for alleged religious freedom violations, alongside nations such as China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan.
