President Donald Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth are increasing the pressure on Nigeria to stop the killing of Christians. (Will Oliver/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Jonathan Pratt, who leads the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, also testified before Congress on Thursday and said any Pentagon involvement would be part of a broader strategy.
"This would span from security to policing to economic," he said. "We want to look at all of these tools and have a comprehensive strategy to get the best result possible."
GUNMEN ATTACK CHURCH IN NIGERIA, KILLING TWO AND KIDNAPPING OTHERS
Trinidadian-US rapper Nicki Minaj speaks during the panel discussion "Combatting Religious Violence and the Killing of Christians in Nigeria" at the US Mission to the United Nations in New York City, on November 18, 2025. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)
Recent incidents in Nigeria have included the mass abduction of over 300 children and 12 teachers from a Catholic school on Friday, as well as a shooting at another church that left two people dead. The gunmen also abducted several congregants from the church.
The primary threat comes from the Islamist radical group Boko Haram, as well as its splinter Islamic State of West Africa Province. The groups target primarily Christians, though Muslims of other sects also face attacks.
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On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz held an event highlighting the ongoing violence in Nigeria. During the event, Waltz called the killings of Christians in Nigeria a "genocide wearing the mask of chaos." He was joined by rap superstar Nicki Minaj, who called for religious freedom for all.
Fox News' Rachel Wolf and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on X: @Hagstrom_Anders.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-administration-expands-efforts-stop-christian-violence-nigeria-aid-threat