Nigeria has opened discussions with the United States government after President Donald Trump threatened possible military action in response to ongoing killings of Christians by jihadist groups in the country, Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar told AFP on Monday.
According to the minister, the Nigerian government is taking the concerns raised by the US “very seriously,” stressing that diplomatic channels have already been activated to address the situation and provide clarity on the security challenges Nigeria faces.
Tuggar noted that while Nigeria acknowledges the gravity of extremist attacks—particularly those carried out by Boko Haram and Islamic State–affiliated militants—the government maintains that foreign military intervention is unnecessary and could complicate internal security operations already underway.
“We are engaging with our partners in Washington to ensure they have a full understanding of the context, our efforts on the ground, and the progress being made,”
he said. “Nigeria remains committed to protecting all citizens, regardless of religion.”President Trump’s comments, widely reported last week, sparked global reactions and raised diplomatic tensions as he accused Nigerian authorities of failing to curb what he described as “targeted killings” of Christians.
The foreign minister insisted that Nigeria is handling the matter responsibly and urged the international community to support ongoing counter-terrorism efforts rather than heighten tensions.