Why Trump Ordered a Strike on Militants in Nigeria: QuickTake

US President Donald Trump in November threatened to take military action in Nigeria unless its government halted what he described as the killing of “very large numbers” of Christians by jihadists. He followed through weeks later, ordering a strike against Islamic State targets — an attack that was coordinated with the West African nation.

Allegations of Christians being persecuted in Nigeria have floated around right-wing circles in the US for years. Trump amplified such claims during his first term and escalated the rhetoric after returning to the White House in January.

A nation of about 230 million people that’s ...