A US lawmaker has slammed President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy military action in Nigeria, describing it as reckless and potentially disastrous for the West African nation.
Sara Jacobs, a member of the House of Representatives, expressed her concerns on Thursday during a congressional hearing on allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
“President Trump’s threat is reckless, and any unilateral military action in Nigeria would be illegal,” Jacobs said.
“Congress has not authorized force in Nigeria to protect Christians, and any action without Nigeria’s consent violates international law”.
She said framing the violence in Nigeria as solely a religious conflict oversimplifies the complex security challenges facing the country.
Jacobs pointed out that Trump’s rhetoric has already led to increased tensions between Christian and Muslim populations in Nigeria.
“We are already receiving reports of increased tensions between Christian and Muslim populations following this rhetoric,” she said, warning that a military-led approach could lead to more civilian casualties and fuel violent extremism.
The congresswoman advocated for a more nuanced approach, noting the need for diplomacy and engagement with Nigerian authorities.
“We need to use more tools from our foreign policy toolbox if we’re serious about helping Nigeria protect its citizens,” Jacobs said, highlighting the importance of addressing the root causes of violence and supporting reforms within Nigeria’s institutions.
“Distorting what’s happening into a solely religious narrative erases the real drivers of violence and makes it harder to implement effective solutions, and it can fuel violence against the very groups the Trump administration claims it wants to protect,” the US lawmaker said.
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