MAIDUGURI, Nigeria: Nigeria’s new army chief has vowed to step up military operations against terrorist groups in the country’s north, just days after US President Donald Trump warned of possible US intervention if attacks on Christians continue.
Addressing troops in Maiduguri, Borno State’s capital and the epicenter of the insurgency, Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu said the armed forces were entering a decisive stage in their fight against extremists. “You have been training to defeat the terrorists. This time, we are doing it differently,” he told soldiers, emphasizing that failure was not an option. Shaibu said new equipment and combat support systems have been deployed to ensure success in the renewed offensive.
His remarks came after President Trump issued an ultimatum on November 1, warning Nigeria to end what he described as persecution of Christians or face US-led action. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rejected Trump’s characterization, insisting that Nigeria protects religious freedom.
Experts, however, note that the country’s complex security crisis cannot be reduced to religion alone. Though Christians have suffered attacks, most victims of extremist violence are Muslims in the country’s northern regions, where groups such as Boko Haram continue their insurgency amid resource and communal conflicts.
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