The Nigerian government is pushing back against US President Donald Trump's claims of mass violence against Christians while attempting to smooth ties with what it regards as a crucial international partner.
On November 1, Trump stunned Nigeria with a message on his Truth Social account accusing the country of allowing the killing of Christians and threatening direct US military action. The claims followed weeks of mounting allegations and lobbying by influential US Christian organisations.
"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," Trump wrote.