Nigerian leaders have rejected the recent threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned of potential military action over what he described as the Nigerian government’s failure to protect Christians from persecution.

The backlash follows Trump’s social media posts accusing Nigerian authorities of allowing the “killing of Christians” and threatening to cut aid and launch military operations to “wipe out Islamic terrorists”.

Presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala dismissed Trump’s statements as inflammatory and based on misleading reports. “The United States cannot unilaterally carry out any military operation in Nigeria,” Bwala told the Associated Press, emphasizing that such threats are part of Trump’s “style of going forceful in order to force a sit-down and have a conversation”.

Also Read: Rev. Botrus Mansour Becomes First Arab Christian to Lead World Evangelical Alliance