By Opeyemi Adelakun
United States President Donald Trump has claimed that US military strikes in Nigeria brought an end to widespread attacks on Christian communities by terrorists, saying the operation eliminated key militant leaders and deterred further violence.
Speaking during an event in Washington over the weekend, Trump said the military action targeted the leadership of the terrorist group responsible for the attacks, describing the operation as part of his administration’s broader efforts to protect Christians worldwide and combat terrorism.
According to him, the operation significantly reduced attacks on Christian communities and prevented further killings of civilians.
“As you know, we recently struck Nigeria and largely ended the slaughter of great Christian populations,” Trump said.
“They have a great Christian population. They were being butchered. Thousands and thousands of people were being killed, children, women, old people, just being slaughtered, hacked to death.”
The US President further claimed that the operation had discouraged the group from launching additional attacks.
“They know that if they go further, the attack will be far greater and that they don’t want to really get involved anymore so much,” he said.
“You know, we hit them very hard. We knocked out their leader. We knocked out their second leader and their third leader.”
Trump compared the operation in Nigeria to recent US military action against Iran, saying both were aimed at addressing major security threats.
“It sounds a little bit like Iran, actually. It’s all about a different cause that we have to do because we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let it happen,” he stated.
He also said his administration remained committed to protecting Christians around the world, regardless of where they faced persecution.
“So I’m saving Christians throughout the world, even though we are not in those various countries where you read about this,” Trump said.
The US President added that his administration would continue to pursue terrorist groups wherever they operate.
“I’m saving them by hitting these terrorists very violently and very hard. We’re hitting them very hard by the greatest weapons on earth, taking them out.
“We know where they are. We hunt them down, and we take them out. They go into a village and they just kill everybody.”
Trump also warned against what he described as threats to religious freedom, claiming that opponents sought to suppress religious practice and institutions.
His remarks come amid continued international attention on insecurity in Nigeria and efforts by authorities to curb terrorist attacks and other forms of violent extremism.
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