Republican Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville said Wednesday he would support deploying U.S. troops to Nigeria.
Tuberville’s remark came amid President Donald Trump’s recent threat to consider a U.S. military response to violence in Nigeria, including the possibility of “troops on the ground” or airstrikes, comments he made to reporters Sunday. (RELATED: Nigeria Welcomes US Intervention In Massacre Of Christians By Islamic Terror Groups)
“But you’re with the Armed Services Committee, would you support U.S. troops going into Nigeria?” Fox News’ John Roberts asked.
“Now, you bet I would,” Tuberville replied. “This one wouldn’t be like going into Russia or China or North Korea or Iran. This one would be going and helping innocent people that would be able to take back over their country.”
Trump on Sunday said there “could be” U.S. troops or airstrikes in Nigeria to stop what he called mass killings of Christians, remarks he delivered aboard Air Force One. The warning followed his move to put Nigeria back on the list of “Countries of Particular Concern” for religious-freedom violations.
Tuberville, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has recently spotlighted Islamist violence in Nigeria and urged tougher U.S. posture. After Trump’s statements, Fox News aired multiple segments discussing potential U.S. action and the reported persecution of Christians in the country.
The Pentagon has not announced any deployment orders, and Congress has not taken up an authorization specific to Nigeria.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has battled jihadist insurgencies and other violent groups for years. U.S. forces have a small footprint supporting counter-terror efforts elsewhere in West Africa but no current combat deployment to Nigeria has been formally declared by the administration.
