Femi Ashekun/
Donald Trump has declared Nigeria a “country of particular concern” over what he described as an “existential threat” to Christianity, accusing radical Islamists of orchestrating mass killings of believers in the West African nation.
The declaration, announced by Trump on Truth Social on Friday, marks one of his most direct interventions in Nigeria’s security crisis. He claimed that thousands of Christians were being slaughtered and urged the United States Congress to investigate the matter.
“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’ — but that is the least of it,” Trump wrote.
He added that he had asked Congressman Riley Moore, together with House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, to “immediately look into this matter and report back” to him, insisting that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries.”
Trump’s comments come amid growing international concern over the escalating violence in parts of northern and central Nigeria, where armed groups, including Islamist militants, have repeatedly targeted communities.
While rights advocates have long accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians, analysts note that the violence often stems from overlapping factors, including ethnic tensions, land disputes, and banditry.
Reuters and Newsweek confirmed that Trump’s statement was posted on his Truth Social account on 31 October, reiterating his position that Washington must defend persecuted Christians worldwide.
However, the Associated Press cautioned that the scale and nature of the killings remain disputed, noting that available data do not support claims of a religion-specific genocide.
Trump’s declaration, though symbolic, renews debate over how the United States should address religious persecution and insecurity in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country.
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