Trump Designates Nigeria as ‘Country of Particular Concern’ Over Alleged Killings of Christians
President Donald Trump has accused Nigeria of widespread persecution of Christians, calling the situation a humanitarian tragedy.
He urged global action and directed U.S. lawmakers to investigate the alleged religious killings.
United States President Donald Trump has again classified Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” citing what he described as widespread persecution and killings of Christians across several parts of the country.
In a statement released on social media on Friday, October 31, President Trump said Christianity was under severe threat in Nigeria and called for urgent global attention to stop what he termed a growing humanitarian tragedy. He alleged that thousands of Christians had lost their lives in recent years at the hands of extremist groups operating in northern and central Nigeria.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump said. “When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered like what is happening in Nigeria, something must be done.”
The U.S. president also directed Congressman Riley Moore, Chairman Tom Cole, and members of the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the situation and present findings to his administration. He emphasized that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries,” adding that America was ready “to protect and support Christian populations around the world.”
Trump’s statement followed similar remarks by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who had recently alleged that Nigeria was witnessing a “Christian genocide.” Cruz claimed that believers were being deliberately targeted and executed for their faith by Islamist terrorists.
However, the Nigerian government and several religious leaders have strongly denied the claim, arguing that the ongoing violence across different regions stems from banditry, terrorism, and communal conflicts, not religious persecution.
