United States, President Donald Trump has made fresh claims that his recently authorised missile strikes in Nigeria played a crucial role to end the killing of Christian population in the West African nation.
Trump made the remarks on Friday during an event in Washington.
“As you know, we recently struck Nigeria and largely ended the slaughter of great Christian populations,” he said.
“They have a great Christian population. They were being butchered… butchered. Thousands and thousands of people were being killed, children, women, old people, just being slaughtered, hacked to death.”
The US president further claims that the operation deterred further terror attacks in Nigeria.
“They know that if they go further, the attack will be far greater and that they don’t want to really get involved anymore so much,” he said.
“You know, we hit them very hard. We knocked out their leader. We knocked out their second leader and their third leader.”
Trump compared US military action in Iran with the operation in Nigeria. Additionally he stressed that his administration will defend Christians worldwide.
“It sounds a little bit like Iran, actually. It’s all about a different cause that we have to do because we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let it happen,” he said.
“So I’m saving Christians throughout the world, even though we are not in those various countries where you read about this.”
Read Also: UK Defence Chief Lands in Borno to Support Nigeria’s War Against Terrorism
‘WE HUNT THEM DOWN’
Speaking further, he emphasized that the United States would continue to target terrorists wherever they operate.
Trump also warned against what he described as threats to religious freedom.
“They will close your churches in this country. They go communist, and they’re trying to. They will kill your people, and that’s what they’re about. They want to end religion,” he added.
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BACKSTORY…
Recall that in May, the Nigerian military announced the killing of over 20 suspected ISIS and ISWAP terrorists following a coordinated airstrike operations launched by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Borno State.
According to reports, the operation targeted terrorist hideouts near Metele, a northern Borno hamlet that is regularly targeted by rebels.
Major General Samaila Uba, the Director of Defence Information, revealed the situation in a statement released on Monday.
According to Defence Headquarters, the operation was carried out in response to intelligence reports indicating that terrorist fighters were moving and gathering in the region.
