The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has secured 487,452 signatures on an urgent petition calling for President Donald Trump to authorize military intervention to protect Christian communities in Nigeria from what supporters describe as systematic genocide, multiple sources confirmed Monday to Ekwutosblog.

The massive signature drive comes amid escalating White House focus on religious violence in Nigeria, with high-level diplomatic meetings between U.S. and Nigerian officials scheduled this week at the Pentagon and State Department.

The petition initiative responds to what humanitarian organizations describe as a devastating security crisis in Nigeria. According to ACLJ’s own reporting, approximately 120,000 Nigerian Christians have been killed since 2009, with over 18,000 churches and Christian-owned schools attacked or destroyed during this period.

Recent statistics from Open Doors’ World Watch List indicate Nigeria accounted for a staggering 90% of all Christians killed for their faith worldwide in 2023, ranking as the deadliest nation for Christians.

The Trump administration has taken increasing notice of the crisis. Earlier this month, President Trump designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for severe violations of religious freedom and threatened potential U.S. military action if Nigeria fails to protect Christian communities.

“If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!” Trump wrote in a recent Truth Social post that sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles.

The ACLJ, founded in 1990 by evangelical leader Pat Robertson, describes its mission as “insuring the ongoing viability of constitutional freedoms in accordance with principles of justice as outlined in Scripture.” The organization has built what it calls a “legacy of victory” over more than 35 years of litigation, with numerous Supreme Court cases featured on its docket.

The organization is deeply connected to conservative political circles. ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow previously served on President Trump’s personal legal team and continues to maintain significant influence in Washington. The ACLJ is also listed as a member of the advisory board for Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s comprehensive plan for reshaping the federal government under a potential conservative administration.

The Nigerian government has vigorously pushed back against characterizations of religious persecution. Nigerian presidential spokespersons expressed shock that Trump was “mulling an invasion of our country” and called the administration’s portrayal a “gross misrepresentation of reality.”

President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged security challenges but insists they affect citizens “across faiths and regions” and maintains that religious tolerance exists in Nigeria.

This week, a high-level Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is scheduled to meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in Washington. According to Pentagon readouts, Hegseth emphasized the need for Nigeria to “demonstrate commitment” and “take both urgent and enduring” action to quell violence against Christians.

A senior State Department official acknowledged the CPC designation had “gotten the Nigerian officials’ attention” and confirmed the U.S. is drafting a proposal that includes “weighing possible military engagement” in Nigeria, as well as potential sanctions.

With nearly half a million signatures now delivered, the ACLJ petition represents significant public pressure on the administration to maintain its stance on Nigerian religious violence. The organization has demonstrated considerable influence in shaping conservative legal policy over its 35-year history.

As Secretary of State Marco Rubio has engaged Nigerian counterparts and planned trips to the region, the State Department emphasizes partnership: “We’re happy to partner with them. We’re not saying good luck. We’re saying, we want to help you make your country safer for religious communities of all stripes.”

The coming weeks will prove critical as the administration finalizes its proposal regarding Nigeria, potentially including a mix of sanctions, enhanced counterterrorism cooperation, military intervention and other measures to protect vulnerable religious communities.

For now, the 487,452 signatures represent a substantial mobilization of American public opinion favoring intervention, ensuring the plight of Nigeria’s Christians remains at the forefront of U.S. foreign policy discussions.
Stay with Ekwutosblog, Africa’s Premier Online community News Platform.