Trumps claim that christians are being targeted in Nigeria

Question

President Trump warns that the U.S. might deploy troops or launch airstrikes in Nigeria if its government fails to stop what he considers an”existential threat” to Christians there. His remakes follow years of widespread violence within Nigeria caused by armed groups, Islamist insurgents, and land conflicts that have killed over 8,000 this year. Both Muslim and Christian. 

Analysts, however, say there is no evidence of a Christian genocide. Much of the killing comes from long-standing clashes between Christian farmers and Muslim herders in the Middle Belt. Nigerian officials have rejected Trump’s false claims. They explain how these false claims would lead to upset, and damage the country's stability. They emphasize that Christians are thriving in Nigeria, with the Christian population at over 90 million.

Answer 1

I agree with this claim. Donald Trump’s warning that the US might deploy troops or launch air-strikes in Nigeria shows serious concern about violence against Christians. Trump mentions how the Nigerian government must stop the "existential threat” to the Christians in Nigeria. 

According to AP news, the data analysts do not agree to Trump's claim. The AP news article mentions the data. “Data collected by the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data program shows 20,409 deaths from 11,862 attacks against civilians in Nigeria between January 2020 and this September. Of those, 385 attacks were “targeted events against Christians … where Christian identity of the victim was a reported factor,” resulting in 317 deaths, ACLED says.” The article mentions how Muslims were also killed in recent attacks. This shows how the Christians were not the only people that were targeted in these attacks. 

Nigeria’s government is also denying Trump’s claims. According to reuters.com “Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede said on Monday the country faced terrorism, not persecution of Christians, and the Nigerian presidency has said it would welcome U.S. help in fighting Islamist insurgents as long as the country's territorial integrity is respected.”

Yes, there is violent conflict in Nigeria that affects Christians but there is no such evidence that shows Christians are the only one getting attacked. This situation is more of a terrorist attack and not a targeted attack.