The United States has begun withdrawing its troops from Nigeria after President Donald Trump declared that American military operations had largely ended what he described as the "slaughter" of Christians in the country.
Speaking at an event in Washington, Trump said recent U.S. military actions in Nigeria had dealt devastating blows to terrorist groups responsible for attacks on Christian communities. He claimed the operations eliminated key militant leaders and significantly reduced the violence.
"As you know, we recently struck Nigeria and largely ended the slaughter of great Christian populations," Trump said, adding that those behind the attacks had been "hit very hard" and were now deterred from carrying out further assaults.
Trump's remarks came months after the United States deployed about 200 troops to Nigeria in advisory and training roles to support Nigerian security forces in counter-terrorism operations. Nigerian authorities had maintained that the American personnel were not involved in direct combat and that Nigerian forces retained full operational control.
However, Trump's claim that the killings of Christians had ended has been strongly rejected by Christian leaders in Nigeria.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside bishops under the Ecumenical Synods of Bishops, Archbishops, Apostles and Senior Clergy, described the President's assertion as misleading and detached from realities on the ground.
Northern CAN Chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab, said insecurity remained widespread, with both Christians and Muslims continuing to suffer killings and kidnappings across several parts of the country. He argued that only victims of the violence could determine whether there had been any meaningful improvement in security, insisting that attacks had not ceased.
The Nigerian government has consistently maintained that the country's security crisis affects citizens across religious and ethnic lines and is driven by insurgency, banditry and other forms of violent criminality rather than a campaign targeting Christians alone.
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