United States former President Donald Trump, speaking at a World Economic Forum sideline event in Davos on Thursday, claimed American forces are intensifying actions against militant groups in Nigeria and framed the violence as targeting Christians. Nigerian authorities have reiterated that the country’s security crisis is not a religious conflict, describing it as a mix of terrorism, banditry and organised criminal violence that affects communities across faiths and regions.
There has been no independent confirmation of direct US combat operations inside Nigeria. Security cooperation between both countries has typically focused on training, intelligence sharing, equipment supply and counterterrorism support, with Nigerian forces leading operations against Boko Haram, ISWAP and bandit networks.
The remarks come as Abuja continues nationwide security deployments. In the North East and North West, the military reports ongoing counter-insurgency and anti-bandit operations. In the South, security agencies maintain heightened patrols to protect urban centres, transport corridors, coastal communities and energy infrastructure critical to the national economy.
Officials have emphasised a unified national approach to prevent sectarian tensions and to sustain cooperation with international partners within Nigeria’s legal frameworks. The Davos event also featured the unveiling of a new “Board of Peace” initiative, which its organisers said will engage multiple countries. Nigeria’s position remains that any international support should align with its sovereignty and the comprehensive, non-sectarian nature of its security strategy.
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