Donald Trump said on Saturday he would authorize military action against militants aligned with ISIS in Nigeria and across the region, if they are not able to stop them. These militants have been responsible for killing tens or thousands of people, many of whom were civilians in an ongoing conflict.
Nigeria is battling insurgency in its north since 2009. Boko Haram, formally Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (or JAS), launched a violent offensive against the Nigerian Government, aiming at establishing an Islamic Caliphate. The group, which is rooted in Salafi jihadist ideologies, rejects Western Education and targets civilians, security forces and schools as well as perceived “infidels” including Christians and moderate Muslims.
In 2016, the group was split, with one faction declaring allegiance to Islamic State (IS) and changing its branding as Islamic State’s West Africa Province.
Over 3 million people have been displaced by the conflict and thousands of others killed in Nigeria and other countries. Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger have formed a multinational task force to fight militants around Lake Chad. However, the group has not been able to contain the violence.
Between 35,000 to 52,000 Nigerian civilians were killed by islamic extremists since 2009. At least 2,226 deaths have been recorded during the first six months of 2025. This is more than all fatalities in 2024.
Boko Haram and its affiliates, ISWAP, attack churches, schools, villages and other places of worship in the Middle Belt, a region with a large Christian population. Donald Trump, the president of the United States announced on Saturday that the U.S. would renew its participation in the conflict should violence continue to escalate.
The president said in an Truth Social posting that if the Nigerian government continues to kill Christians, they will stop providing aid to Nigeria and could very well invade the now-disgraced nation with guns blazing to eliminate the Islamic terrorists responsible for these horrendous atrocities.
I am instructing my Department of War that they should prepare themselves for any possible actions. He added that if we attacked, the attack would be swift, brutal, and sweet. Just like terrorist thugs attacking our CHERISHED Christians.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that, in response to President Obama’s statement, the War Department was ready to act if necessary. The killing of Christians, in Nigeria and elsewhere, must stop immediately. Hegseth said that the Department of War was preparing to act.
The Nigerian government must protect Christians or else we will eliminate the Islamic terrorists that are perpetrating these atrocities.
Yes sir.
It is imperative that the killing of Christians, in Nigeria and elsewhere, cease immediately. Department of War prepares for action. We will either kill Islamic terrorists or the Nigerian government must protect Christians. pic.twitter.com/C0v9RHGoS1
Pete Hegseth 1 November 2025
In Nigeria, the U.S. support is limited to noncombat roles. U.S. aid increased significantly following Boko Haram’s kidnapping in 2014 of 276 girls by Boko Haram, which attracted global attention. Then-President Barack Obama directed expanded assistance.
In the past decade, the U.S. also conducted a variety of raids and airstrikes in the Lake Chad Basin. The latest announcement by President Trump seems to suggest that these operations may intensify over the next few days or weeks.
