US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he had ordered the Defense Department to prepare for military action after accusing Nigeria of turning a blind eye to the persecution of its Christian citizens.

Nigeria has repeatedly denied this accusation by Donald Trump.

Trump wrote on his social media page that there would be a "mass killing" of Christians in the country, and threatened to "immediately cut off aid and support to Nigeria" if the country's government did not take "swift action."

US President Donald Trump has declared the country a "troublingly different entity," citing the widespread suffering and killings of Christians in Nigeria.

The Nigerian government, in a statement issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has rejected Donald Trump's assessment.

In a statement, Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tugar, said Trump's stance does not reflect the reality in Nigeria.