Trump Says U.S. May Consider Troop Deployment or Air Strikes in Nigeria

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States might send troops to Nigeria or conduct air strikes in response to what he described as the widespread killing of Christians in the West African nation.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked whether he envisioned U.S. ground troops or air operations in Nigeria. He replied, “Could be. I mean, other things. I envisage a lot of things. They’re killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria … We’re not going to allow that to happen.”

The president made the remarks while returning to Washington after spending the weekend at his vacation residence in Florida.

On Saturday, Trump warned that the U.S. could take military action if Nigeria failed to stop the violence against Christians. His comments came shortly after his administration reinstated Nigeria on the U.S. State Department’s list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” which identifies nations accused of violating religious freedoms.

Other countries currently on that list include China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan.