It’s been a Christmas marked by urgent calls, military action, and a swirl of controversy as world leaders zero in on Nigeria’s deepening security crisis and the fate of its Christian communities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump both issued high-profile statements and actions in late December 2025, thrusting Nigeria’s violence—and its religious dimensions—back into the international spotlight.
On December 24, in a Christmas message posted to his official X account, Netanyahu called for an immediate halt to attacks on Christians in Nigeria and other regions. "The persecution of Christians or members of any religion cannot and must not be tolerated, and Muslim militant displacement and attacks against Christians in Nigeria, that too must end, and it must end now," Netanyahu declared. He didn’t stop there, expanding his condemnation to the broader Middle East, citing Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey as places where Christians face persecution. According to his message, Israel stands as the lone Middle Eastern country where Christians practice their faith with full rights and freedom. "Where Christians can celebrate proudly their traditions and openly do so without any fear," he said, highlighting Jerusalem’s annual city-sponsored Christmas tree distribution, a tradition lasting two decades. In stark contrast, Netanyahu pointed to a recent incident in Jenin, where, as he described, Palestinians burned a Christmas tree at the Holy Redeemer Church. "That’s the difference," he emphasized, drawing a sharp line between Israel’s approach and that of its neighbors.
Netanyahu’s words echoed and amplified a drumbeat from Washington. Just a day later, President Trump announced that the U.S. military had carried out "numerous perfect strikes" against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria, specifically in Sokoto state, at the request of Nigerian authorities. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "I directed the military to launch a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!" The U.S. Africa Command confirmed the precision air strikes, noting they targeted multiple militants at known ISIS camps. Nigeria’s foreign ministry acknowledged the operation as part of ongoing security cooperation involving intelligence sharing and strategic coordination, with airstrikes described as "precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West."
Trump’s rhetoric has been anything but subtle. He’s repeatedly referenced what he calls the "plight of Christians in Nigeria," and in early November, he threatened military action if the Nigerian government failed to act. That month, he designated Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act, citing what he described as a "Christian genocide." In his words: "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!" The president’s warnings were not idle, as the Christmas strikes demonstrated. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation, hinting at further actions: "more to come..."
Reactions have been swift and divided. Representative Addison McDowell of North Carolina praised Trump’s action, stating, "This situation for Christians in Nigeria has been reaching a breaking point. Persecution of Christians must never stand." But the Nigerian government has pushed back hard against the narrative of targeted Christian persecution. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu responded to Trump’s claims, saying, "The characterization of Nigeria as 'religiously intolerant' does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians." Tinubu emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting all faiths and working with international partners, while his press secretary, Bayo Onanuga, called the U.S. depiction "a gross exaggeration of the Nigerian situation," insisting attacks affect "Christians, Muslims, churches and mosques... randomly."
Indeed, Nigeria’s violence is nothing if not complex. The country’s population is roughly split between Muslims, who predominantly live in the north, and Christians, mostly in the south. Over the past 15 years, extremist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have terrorized the northeast, killing tens of thousands. According to Reuters, human rights experts estimate that Boko Haram has actually killed more Muslims than Christians. The University of Notre Dame’s research underscores that "religious violence in Nigeria is typically a hybrid of ethno-political and economic concerns," and even the motivations of groups like Boko Haram are "mainly mired in economic and ethno-political disputes."
The violence escalated sharply in 2025. Attacks by groups such as Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and ISWAP have surged, with the U.N. World Food Program warning in November that militant attacks are "driving hunger to levels never seen before." David Stevenson, WFP’s Nigeria director, put it plainly: "The advance of insurgency presents a serious threat to stability in the north, with consequences reaching beyond Nigeria. Communities are under severe pressure from repeated attacks and economic stress."
The brutality is not limited to one faith or region. On Christmas Eve, a suicide bombing in Maiduguri’s Borno State—attributed to Boko Haram—killed five people and injured 35 during evening prayers at a mosque. In November, over 300 Catholic school students were abducted by armed bandits, who also killed a deputy head teacher and seized 25 schoolgirls. These incidents, reported by Reuters and USA TODAY, underscore the sweeping and indiscriminate nature of the violence.
International bodies like the European Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have weighed in, framing Nigeria’s turmoil as a broader security challenge rather than a case of targeted religious persecution. Their stance stands in contrast to the more pointed positions taken by Israel and the United States. The EU and ECOWAS have urged a comprehensive approach, emphasizing the need to address the root causes—poverty, governance, and intercommunal strife—rather than focusing solely on religion.
Amid all this, the role of high-profile figures has added both attention and, some argue, confusion. Trump’s U.N. ambassador even invited pop star Nicki Minaj to address the issue at the General Assembly, and Minaj has spoken out alongside Ambassador Mike Waltz about the violence. While these efforts have brought visibility, critics say they risk oversimplifying a deeply tangled crisis.
As the world watches, Nigeria’s government faces a daunting task: to reassure its citizens and international partners that it can protect all communities, regardless of faith, while contending with armed groups that thrive on instability. The recent U.S. strikes and Netanyahu’s Christmas message have reignited debate over how best to respond—militarily, diplomatically, or through deeper efforts to foster social cohesion and economic opportunity. One thing’s certain: the world’s attention is fixed on Nigeria, and the stakes for its people—Christian, Muslim, or otherwise—have rarely felt higher.