Nigeria has renewed its commitment to combatting rising insecurity, signaling a firm resolve to protect its citizens amidst a complex landscape of escalating threats. This pledge coincides with warnings from former US President Donald Trump, who has threatened further American air strikes if what he termed "attacks on Christians" continue in the West African nation. Trump, quoted by Reuters in an interview with the New York Times, specifically linked potential military action to the killing of Christians, referencing a previous Christmas Day US military strike in Nigeria.

The previous US strike was carried out against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of the Nigerian government, which described it as a "joint operation" targeting "terrorists" with "nothing to do with a particular religion." Despite Trump's assertion that "if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike," Nigeria has consistently denied that Christians are subjected to systematic persecution. While acknowledging that Muslims are also being killed by militants, Trump maintained that it is "mostly Christians." His warnings about an "existential threat" to Christianity in Nigeria and threats of military intervention over the nation's failure to stop violence targeting Christian communities date back to late October.

Nigeria's population, exceeding 230 million, is almost equally divided between Christians, predominantly in the south, and Muslims, who mainly inhabit the north. The nation has grappled with persistent security challenges, including violence and kidnappings perpetrated by Islamist insurgents in the north. However, the Nigerian government strongly refutes claims of systematic persecution of Christians, noting that militants have tragically killed numerous Muslims alongside Christians. In response to Trump's earlier threats, Nigeria stated its intention to collaborate with Washington against militants but rejected the US rhetoric suggesting a specific peril for Christians.

Domestically, Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu's administration to empower the Nigerian Armed Forces (AFN) to effectively address the country's security challenges. Speaking at a special Juma'at Prayer commemorating the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day in Abuja, Shettima honored fallen soldiers and expressed optimism for enduring peace and prosperity under President Tinubu's leadership. The January 15 observance, formerly "Armed Forces Remembrance Day," was renamed to reflect its dual purpose of honoring serving personnel and remembering fallen heroes, underscoring the nation's gratitude for their sacrifices.

Security and international relations experts in Nigeria have underscored the critical importance of formal authorization from the Nigerian government for any proposed second phase of US airstrikes. Professor Atah Pine, a Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Benue State University, Makurdi, vehemently opposes unilateral US military action, arguing it would violate Nigerian sovereignty and question the nation's capacity to manage its own security. He stressed that while joint military operations between Nigeria and the US, conducted with proper oversight and approval from Abuja, are acceptable and potentially effective against terrorism and banditry, they must be bilateral.

Former Nigerian Police Force Spokesperson, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (Rtd), echoed these sentiments, confirming that the initial US operation was a joint effort with Nigerian military authorization. He emphasized that any subsequent airstrikes—be it a second, third, or fourth—must receive full Nigerian approval prior to execution. Experts advocate for such cooperation to be strategically targeted at areas with high criminal activity, ensuring lawfulness and operational efficiency. The general sentiment among Nigerians suggests support for airstrikes that effectively curb terrorism and banditry, provided they are carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian government as part of a bilateral arrangement targeting specific terrorist enclaves to achieve peace and security.