Pete Hegseth, US secretary of war, says his department is preparing for possible military action if the Nigerian government fails to end the “killing of innocent Christians” in the country.

Hegseth made the comment on Saturday in response to a Truth Social post by US President Donald Trump, who accused the Nigerian government of turning a blind eye to attacks on Christians.

“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing’, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump wrote.

“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action.

“If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians. Warning: the Nigerian government better move fast!”