Headline: US lawmaker slams Trump’s Nigeria remarks, calls Military threat “dangerously irresponsible”

A senior member of the United States Congress has strongly criticized former President Donald Trump over his recent threat to use military force in Nigeria, describing the remarks as reckless and capable of escalating tensions in an already fragile security environment.

Speaking during a congressional hearing on religious freedom in Africa, U.S. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs condemned Trump’s claim that a “Christian genocide” was taking place in Nigeria and his suggestion that America should intervene militarily.

Jacobs argued that Trump’s comments not only misrepresented the complex nature of Nigeria’s security challenges but also risked heightening religious divisions in the country.

According to her, Congress has not authorized any military action in Nigeria, and any attempt to deploy U.S. forces without congressional approval or Nigeria’s consent would violate both domestic and international law.

She warned that foreign military intervention, especially one built on oversimplified narratives, could worsen civilian casualties, empower extremist elements, and undermine ongoing peace building efforts across Nigeria’s troubled regions.

Jacobs stressed that violence in Nigeria affects both Christians and Muslims and is largely driven by terrorism, banditry, and communal disputes,not a state backed campaign against a particular religious group. She urged U.S. policymakers to focus on diplomacy, development support, and strengthening Nigeria’s institutions rather than promoting inflammatory rhetoric.

Her comments were echoed by other lawmakers who accused Trump of using Nigeria’s security crisis for political gain, adding that such statements could destabilize Nigeria’s internal cohesion if left unchallenged.

The Nigerian government has also dismissed claims of genocide, insisting that the country is confronting multiple security threats that require collaboration,not foreign threats of force.

With tensions rising, U.S. officials say further discussions will continue on how best to support Nigeria without undermining its sovereignty or worsening the insecurity on the ground.