In a rare show of unity, lawmakers in the United States Congress have overwhelmingly approved a resolution authorising President Donald J. Trump to pursue possible military action in Nigeria. The measure, passed during a special joint session, recorded 285 votes in favour out of 383 cast, with Democrats and Republicans setting aside partisan divides to back the president’s position.
The resolution empowers President Trump to deploy targeted military force against armed groups accused of orchestrating widespread attacks on Christian communities across northern and central Nigeria. Trump, who has repeatedly described the violence as “nothing short of genocide against Christians,” hailed the vote on his Truth Social platform, writing:
“HUGE WIN! Congress just voted 285–98 to let us STOP the slaughter of innocent Christians in Nigeria. The military is ready. Very soon, justice will be done – fast and hard. Thank you to every Patriot who stood with us!”
The measure—formally titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom Protection and Counter-Terrorism Act of 2025—was fast-tracked through both chambers of Congress following three weeks of closed-door briefings. It secured strong bipartisan backing, with 232 Republicans and 53 Democrats voting in support, reflecting growing frustration in Washington over years of mass killings, abductions and village raids that Nigerian authorities have struggled to halt.
The resolution notes that, over the past decade, jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and heavily armed Fulani militia have carried out relentless attacks across the Middle Belt and northern states. Monitoring organisations, including Open Doors, have consistently ranked Nigeria as the world’s deadliest country for Christians, with thousands reportedly killed annually.
It further outlines actions already taken by the White House:
- On October 31, President Trump designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” for egregious violations of religious freedom.
- All U.S. aid to Nigeria—exceeding $1 billion annually—was frozen pending “tangible improvement” in security conditions.
- Earlier this month, Trump directed the Pentagon to prepare contingency plans for “rapid and decisive” intervention.
In Abuja, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the congressional vote as an unnecessary overreach, insisting Nigeria’s security crisis is a domestic matter affecting citizens of all religions—not only Christians.
Meanwhile, evangelical groups and human-rights advocates in the U.S. have applauded the development as long overdue. Several African and European governments, however, warned that unilateral U.S. military action could destabilise West Africa.
Under U.S. constitutional procedure, President Trump now has ten days to sign the resolution into law. Once enacted, military operations could begin—most analysts anticipate precision airstrikes and special-forces missions rather than a large-scale ground operation.
For millions of persecuted Christians in Nigeria, the vote represents a rare glimmer of hope. For the Trump White House, it signals another unmistakable attempt to fulfil a central campaign promise: that America will no longer remain silent when Christians are under attack anywhere in the world.
Source: Naija Standard Newspaper
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