Mixed reactions have continued to trail U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of military intervention in Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians.

Trump, on Friday, designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), alleging that Christians in the country are facing an “existential threat.” He further called on U.S. lawmakers to investigate what he termed the “mass slaughter” of Christians.

The American President later warned that if Nigeria fails to stop what he described as “the killing of Christians by Islamist extremists,” the U.S. could intervene militarily “with guns blazing.”

While the statement has triggered panic in some quarters, others have welcomed Trump’s remarks, describing them as a long-overdue call to action against insecurity in Nigeria.

Government officials, Islamic clerics, and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), however, have rejected Trump’s claims, saying the country’s security challenges are not targeted at any particular religion. They alleged that the move by the U.S. President could be politically motivated.

Despite the mounting tension, key opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, have so far remained silent on the matter.

Former governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, known for their outspoken views on national issues, have also kept mum.

In an interview with DAILY POST, public affairs analyst Moses Jibila linked their silence to 2027 political ambitions.

“They are being careful because this is a very sensitive matter,” Jibila said. “Atiku cannot say there is no Christian genocide; if he does, Christians will come for him. And if he supports Trump, his Muslim brothers will attack him. The same goes for Obi and others — it’s all about self-interest.”

This is the second time Nigeria has been designated a Country of Particular Concern by the U.S. The first was under Trump’s administration in 2020, before President Joe Biden later reversed the policy.

The CPC designation falls under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, which applies to countries that engage in or tolerate “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”

Other countries currently designated as CPCs include China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Eritrea, among others.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu is expected to meet with Donald Trump “in the coming days” to address the issue.

According to Daniel Bwala, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, the meeting will hold “either in the State House or the White House.”

Bwala expressed confidence that the genocide allegations and invasion threats would be “discussed and resolved” when both leaders meet.