Nigeria rejects Trump’s claims of Christian persecution, denies ‘country of particular concern’ label

Nigeria rejects Trump’s claims of Christian persecution, denies ‘country of particular concern’ label

The Nigerian government has strongly refuted recent remarks by United States President Donald Trump, who accused Nigeria of mass killings of Christians and designated the country a “Country of Particular Concern.”

In a statement issued on Saturday by Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government described Trump’s claims as inaccurate and not reflective of the current realities in Nigeria.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria notes the recent remarks by US President Donald Trump alleging large-scale killings of Christians in Nigeria and calling for the country’s designation as a ‘Country of Particular Concern,’” the statement read. “These claims do not reflect the situation on the ground. Nigerians of all faiths have long lived, worked, and worshipped together peacefully.”

While acknowledging the importance of international concern for human rights and religious freedom, the ministry emphasized that Nigeria remains committed to combating terrorism, promoting interfaith harmony, and protecting the rights of all citizens under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The government also reaffirmed its willingness to collaborate with the United States to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation on peace and security matters.

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President Trump made the controversial announcement on Friday via Truth Social, later shared on the White House’s official X handle. He claimed Christianity in Nigeria faces an “existential threat,” citing figures that suggest thousands of Christians have been killed by radical Islamist groups.

“When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide), something must be done,” Trump stated. He urged members of Congress, including Congressman Riley Moore and Chairman Tom Cole, to investigate the matter and take swift action.

Last month, Congressman Moore called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to impose diplomatic sanctions on Nigeria, describing the country as “the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian.” He also recommended suspending arms sales until Nigeria demonstrates a commitment to ending religious violence.

In a separate interview with CNN earlier in the week, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed the claims, stating that terrorist attacks in Nigeria are not targeted solely at Christians.

“Some of the claims made by officials of the United States are based on faulty data and assumptions that the victims of this violence are largely Christians,” Idris said. “Yes, there are Christians being attacked, but these criminals do not just target one religion. They target Christians. They also target Muslims. We have seen that especially in the northern part of the country.”

The Nigerian government’s response underscores its rejection of the “Country of Particular Concern” designation and its commitment to addressing security challenges without religious bias.

Nigeria rejects Trump’s claims of Christian persecution, denies ‘country of particular concern’ label