Nigeria’s Conflicts Are Deeper Than Religion — & U.S. Policy Risks Making Them Worse

PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s sudden plan to launch a military intervention “to save Nigerian Christians” reveals a dangerous misunderstanding of Nigeria’s complex crises. While Christians in parts of the country have suffered horrific attacks, framing Nigeria’s turmoil purely as religious persecution oversimplifies a tangled web of political, ethnic, and economic conflicts that have festered for years.

James Barnett, a researcher who has lived in Nigeria studying militant groups, warns that this narrow view risks worsening instability. Violence has ravaged both Christian and Muslim communities, and lumping all armed groups together under a religious label distorts the reality on the ground.

Trump’s threat of intervention reportedly followed an emotional reaction to a Fox News segment on Nigerian Christians. Analysts suggest he views Nigeria as a stage where the U.S. can act decisively without major geopolitical risks — unlike China, Pakistan, or Egypt, where strategic interests complicate such action.

But Nigeria’s insecurity stems from weak governance, corruption, and deep social divisions — not simply a religious war. The country’s quasi-federal system and competing ethnic and political interests have made it difficult to coordinate a national response.

A U.S. military intervention, Barnett argues, would neither solve Nigeria’s problems nor protect Christians. Instead, it could inflame tensions and drag Washington into conflicts it cannot control.

Nigeria’s leaders must focus on restoring security and building political unity, while the U.S. should adopt a more nuanced policy — one that recognizes Nigeria’s complexity rather than reducing it to a morality tale. Only through cooperation, diplomacy, and an honest understanding of Nigeria’s diverse society can both nations work toward lasting peace.