Nigeria Clarifies What Really Happened With Trump’s Airstrikes

The Nigerian government has taken the time to debunk President Trump’s claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria after announcing the bombing of Africa’s most populous (and oil-rich) country.

“The United States has launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorists in northwest Nigeria, who are brutally targeting and killing mostly innocent Christians at levels not seen in many years, if not centuries! Asset announcement on Christmas Eve from Truth Social. “I already warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the massacre of Christians there would be hell to pay, and tonight that was the case. »

The problem with right-wing claims about the genocide of Christians in Nigeria is that terrorist groups and militias kill. everyone, Christians and Muslims alike. The Nigerian government, which says so provided intelligence to the Trump administration before the strikes, clarified what it really was.

“Nigeria reiterates that all counter-terrorism efforts are guided by the primacy of protection of civilian lives, safeguarding national unity and respect for the rights and dignity of all citizens, regardless of religion or ethnic origin,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. wrote in a statement. “Terrorist violence in any form, whether directed against Christians, Muslims or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values ​​and international peace and security. »

Nigeria has spent months trying to clarify this point, just as the right has spent months trying to justify the violent intervention of the United States to protect Christians – with Trump threatening to enter Nigeria “in force” last month.

“This is not a Christian genocide, because the facts do not support it,” Malik Samuel, researcher at Good Governance Nigeria. said in November. “If you look at the areas where this conflict is happening, even in the…even if you look at Borno State alone, you look at northern Borno, a lot of these communities are dominated by Muslims. So most of the victims of Boko Haram violence are Muslims.”

Trump runs with it like he ran with the absurd allegations of white genocide in South Africa – and Nigeria’s Christians and Muslims will suffer the consequences.