Nigeria Responds To Trump's Plan Ready To Attack Rebels Killing Christian Citizens

JAKARTA - Nigeria will welcome the assistance of the United States (US) in fighting Islamist rebels as long as the integrity of its territory is respected.

This was conveyed in response to the threat of military action by President Donald Trump for what he called a bad treatment of Christians in the West African country.

Trump said last week he asked the Department of Defense (War Department) to prepare for a possible "fast" military action in Nigeria if the African most populous country fails to take firm action against Christian killings.

"We welcome US aid as long as they recognize our territorial integrity," Daniel Bwala, adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, told Reuters.

However, Trump on Sunday told US military journalists it could deploy troops to Nigeria or launch airstrikes to stop what he called the killings of "large numbers" of Christians there, but gave no further details.

"I imagine a lot of things," Trump said on Air Force One, without elaborating.

Bwala is trying to defuse tensions between the two countries, although Trump calls Nigeria a "criminal state."

"We don't take it literally, because we know Donald Trump has a good view of Nigeria," Bwala said.

"I believe that by the time these two leaders meet and sit together, there will be better results in our joint determination to fight terrorism," he said.