U.S. labels Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over Christian persecution claims
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Nigeria will be designated a “country of particular concern” (CPC) over allegations of large-scale persecution of Christians in the West African nation. In a post on his social-media platform, Trump declared:
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.”
He went on to state that the U.S. government “stands ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World,” and has asked U.S. lawmakers Riley Moore and Tom Cole to conduct an immediate investigation and report back.
Moreover, Trump warned of further action:
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
Abuja responds, rejects claims of state-sponsored religious persecution
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu denied the depiction of the country as intolerant, stating that religious freedom and tolerance “have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so.”
In addition, Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar affirmed that Nigeria’s constitution forbids state-backed religious persecution at any level of government.
Nigeria’s government emphasises that attacks afflicting the country are largely rooted in insurgency, communal conflict and resource disputes, rather than systematic persecution of Christians.
Context & Analysis
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, with roughly equal Christian and Muslim populations.
The northeastern region has suffered from the insurgency of Boko Haram for well over a decade; meanwhile, banditry and farmer-herder violence in the central and northwest regions affect both Christians and Muslims.
Analysts caution that figures cited for Christian-only victims may be inflated or misleading, noting that violence in Nigeria frequently cuts across religious lines and is motivated by a complex mix of factors.
The CPC designation by the U.S. may lead to diplomatic consequences for Nigeria, including possible sanctions or aid restrictions.
What’s next?
The Trump administration’s designation triggers a formal review by U.S. authorities. Congress and the State Department will determine whether Nigeria’s actions, or inactions, meet the threshold for punitive measures. Nigeria has signalled its willingness to accept external support in its fight against insurgents, but has insisted on safeguarding national sovereignty.
The situation remains fluid, with both international and domestic stakeholders weighing in on the humanitarian, religious and geopolitical dimensions of the crisis.