Washington considers military action, wants to protect Christians in Nigeria

The United States is developing a plan to force Nigeria to better protect Christians and respect religious freedom. The plan may include sanctions and the involvement of the Pentagon in the fight against terrorism.

US President Donald Trump has already warned Nigeria against military intervention and put it on a list of countries with serious religious rights violations. The Nigerian government rejects these accusations and says the situation is more complex.

A high-ranking Nigerian delegation, including the defence minister and the head of the intelligence services, has arrived in Washington.

The US plan emphasises Nigeria's security capabilities, intelligence sharing and diplomatic pressure. It also rejects the idea that the Nigerian government has been infiltrated by jihadists. However, the extremist group Boko Haram, which is active in the region, has been destabilising the country for 15 years.

US officials stress that pressure is needed because previous efforts have been insufficient.

(reuters, swag)