United States President Donald Trump has designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged killings of Christians, describing the situation as a “mass slaughter” and calling for a congressional investigation.
In a statement posted Friday on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump claimed that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” he wrote.
The US president said America “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening” and directed Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole to investigate.
“I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern.’ But that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered like in Nigeria — something must be done,” Trump stated. “The United States stands ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.”
FG dismisses genocide allegation as ‘false and divisive’
In response, the Federal Government rejected the genocide allegation, describing it as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.”
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said attempts to portray Nigeria’s security challenges as a religious conflict were misleading and harmful.
“Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is inaccurate and dangerous,” he said in a statement issued in Abuja.
Idris noted that extremists have attacked citizens of all faiths, stressing that Muslims, Christians, and non-religious Nigerians have all suffered from terrorism.
He said that between May 2023 and February 2025, Nigerian security forces killed over 13,500 terrorists and rescued nearly 10,000 hostages, while the capture of top Ansaru leaders and over 700 convictions of Boko Haram suspects underscored Nigeria’s progress in counterterrorism.
“These criminals target anyone who rejects their murderous ideology, regardless of faith,” the minister said.
US adviser, senate, and CAN react
During a visit to President Bola Tinubu on October 17, Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to President Trump on Arab and African Affairs, also dismissed claims of a targeted genocide.
“Those who know the terrain well know that terrorism has no colour, no religion, and no tribe,” Boulos said, noting that extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS have killed victims of all faiths, “often more Muslims than Christians.”
Meanwhile, on October 14, the Nigerian Senate constituted a 12-member ad hoc committee to investigate international claims of Christian persecution. Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the committee to produce a “fact-based position paper” to guide Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement.
“Our findings must be backed by verifiable facts and statistics,” Akpabio said, adding that the Senate would engage the US Congress to correct “misleading narratives” about Nigeria’s security situation.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), however, reiterated concerns about persistent attacks on Christian communities. CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, urged the government to strengthen protection measures and ensure justice for victims.
“Our concern remains that these cries for justice and protection are too often met with delay or denial,” Okoh said. “The pain of Christian families torn apart by violence must never be treated as mere statistics.”
CAN said it has consistently documented religiously motivated attacks, engaged international organisations, and petitioned the International Criminal Court (ICC) for intervention.
FG reaffirms religious freedom
Minister Idris reaffirmed that freedom of religion is guaranteed under Nigeria’s Constitution, noting that the heads of both the armed forces and the police are Christians — a fact that underscores Nigeria’s religious diversity.
“We urge international observers and media platforms to act responsibly and avoid sensationalism,” he said. “Nigeria remains committed to human rights, democracy, and the fight against terrorism in all its forms.”
