A United States Congresswoman, Sara Jacobs, has described as reckless President Donald Trump’s military threat to Nigeria over alleged Christian genocide.

Jacobs made this statement on Thursday during a US Congress hearing on Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC.

According to her, pinning Nigeria’s violence solely on religious conflict fails to capture the full picture.

“President Trump’s threat is reckless, and any unilateral military action in Nigeria is illegal. Congress has not authorised force in Nigeria to protect Christians,” she said.

The member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa added that the violence affects both Christians and Muslims, urging the Nigerian government to do more to protect its citizens.

According to reports Trump warned he had asked the Defence Department to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria if the Nigerian government “continues to allow the killing of Christians”.

This followed his decision to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC, in response to allegations of widespread persecution and genocide against Christians.