By Sabiu Abdullahi
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” following allegations of widespread killings of Christians across the nation.
Trump made the announcement in a post shared on his Truth Social platform on Friday, which was later reposted on the White House’s X account.
This is coming at a time when the larger percentage of the victims the killings in Nigeria are Muslims.
According to the Family Research Council, such a designation is usually made by the US government—particularly by the Secretary of State—under American laws that identify countries violating human rights or engaging in actions that contradict US interests.
In his post, Trump wrote, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern.’
”He added, “But that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done! “I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter and report back to me.”
Trump further declared that the United States would not remain passive in the face of such violence, saying, “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!”
FG Reacts
Reacting to the allegations, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed the claims as “misleading and unreflective” of Nigeria’s complex security situation.
Speaking on CNN, Idris said some US lawmakers were relying on inaccurate and misleading data to accuse Nigeria of Christian genocide.
His media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, released a statement reaffirming that the Nigerian government remained committed to religious freedom, human rights, and the rule of law.
Idris said, “Some of the claims made by officials of the United States are based on faulty data and the assumption that victims of violence are largely Christians. Yes, there are Christians being attacked, but these criminals do not target one religion; they attack both Christians and Muslims, especially in the northern part of the country.”
The minister also cautioned that spreading such narratives could embolden criminal groups that seek to ignite religious tension and animosity among Nigerians.