Just In: Trump Labels Nigeria ‘Country of Particular Concern’ Citing Christian Genocide Allegations
By Daniel Ojukwu
The United States has again placed Nigeria on its religious-freedom watchlist after President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Christians in the country are facing deadly attacks and need urgent protection.
Trump made the declaration in a post shared on his Truth Social page, claiming that armed groups in Nigeria are targeting Christian communities and that “thousands” have been killed. He said the U.S. government must respond and also called on American lawmakers to investigate the situation immediately.
The designation known as “country of particular concern” is used by the U.S. to label countries accused of serious violations of religious freedom. Nigeria first received this status in 2020 during Trump’s previous time in office but was removed from the list under former President Joe Biden in 2021.
Trump stated that the U.S. “cannot sit back” while Christians in Nigeria and other countries face what he described as violent attacks. He added that the United States is prepared to defend Christian groups globally.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has rejected claims of targeted religious killings. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, said Nigeria is a multi-faith nation and that insecurity affects many communities, not only Christians. He insisted the government is actively tackling terrorism, banditry, and violent crime across the country.
The announcement is expected to draw global attention to Nigeria’s security situation and could affect diplomatic relations between both countries going forward.