Bishops of Nigeria Divided on U.S. President Trump's Bombing of their Country Due to Ongoing Christian Persecution



On December 25, 2025, the landscape of Nigerian security and international relations shifted dramatically as President Donald Trump ordered targeted airstrikes in northwest Nigeria.1 Framed by the White House as a mission to protect persecuted Christians from "radical Islamic terrorism," the move has elicited a complex, polarized response from Catholic Bishops of Nigeria and other religious leaders.

While some clergy view the intervention as a long-overdue "Christmas gift," others warn that foreign military force may exacerbate the very religious tensions it seeks to soothe.

Pope Leo XIV in his first World Day of Peace message raises his voice against bombing referring to Jesus' example in the Gospels; "He firmly repeats to those who would defend him by force: “Put your sword back into its sheath” (Jn 18:11; cf. Mt 26:52). The peace of the risen Jesus is unarmed, because his was an unarmed struggle in the midst of concrete historical, political and social circumstances. Christians must together bear prophetic witness to this novelty, mindful of the tragedies in which they have too often been complicit. The great parable of the Last Judgment invites all Christians to act with mercy in this awareness (cf. Mt 25:31-46)."


A Crisis of "Fear, Flight, and Funerals"

Before the U.S. strikes, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria had grown increasingly vocal about the government's failure to protect its citizens. In a November 2025 statement titled "Peace in Nigeria: Moving from Fragility to Stability," the CBCN described a nation sinking into a cycle of "fear, flight, and funerals."2

The bishops highlighted several key grievances:

  • Systemic Negligence: Reports of delayed security responses, suggesting possible collusion or a lack of will by local authorities.3

  • Religious Persecution: The destruction of churches and the "overreach of Sharia Courts" in northern states.4

  • The "Genocide" Debate: The bishops noted that the prolonged, brutal attacks on Christian communities in the Middle Belt have given credence to allegations of genocide.5

The Bishops Respond: A House Divided

The reaction to Trump's bombings among Nigeria’s Catholic leadership reflects the deep desperation and the theological caution inherent in the region.

The Argument for Intervention

Some leaders, such as Auxiliary Bishop John Bogna Bakeni of Maiduguri, have welcomed the move.6 Having witnessed a decade of kidnappings—including over 200 priests in the last ten years—some clergy argue that Nigeria’s "overstretched and outgunned" military cannot stand alone. To these leaders, the U.S. strikes represent a necessary "indomitable global defense" of a community that felt abandoned by its own government.

The Argument for Peace and Sovereignty

In contrast, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto—the very region where the strikes occurred—voiced strong opposition.7 Invoking the words of Jesus to Peter to "put your sword back in its place," Kukah argued that:

  • Violence Begets Violence: Military strikes may kill terrorists but do not address the "miseducation and poverty" that create them.

  • Social Cohesion: There is a fear that framing the conflict purely as "protecting Christians" ignores the many moderate Muslims who are also victims of ISIS-Sahel and Boko Haram, potentially fueling sectarian resentment.

Summary of Perspectives

Leader/GroupStanceKey Quote/Argument
Bishop Matthew KukahOpposed"Violence cannot defeat violence... Let us heed those solemn words of Jesus to Peter."
Bishop John Bogna BakeniSupportive"It's long overdue... The Nigerian government is open to international assistance."
CBCN (Official)CautiousEmphasizes that while Christians are targeted, "every human life is sacred" and peace requires "justice, not just force."

Looking Ahead: The Cost of Protection

The Catholic Bishops continue to urge the Nigerian government to take ownership of its security architecture. While the Trump administration has signaled that more strikes could follow if the "slaughter of Christians" continues, the CBCN remains focused on a long-term solution: good governance. As the bishops noted in their year-end message, military intervention might solve the immediate threat, but only the "light of knowledge" and "moral renewal" can heal the wounds of a divided nation.

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