Donald Trump Declares Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ Over Mass Killings of Christians
Washington D.C. – November 1, 2025
U.S. President Donald J. Trump has declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” following what he described as an “existential threat” to Christianity in the country.
In a strongly worded social media statement, Trump condemned the ongoing mass killings of Christians in Nigeria, blaming “radical Islamists” for the violence and calling for urgent U.S. action.
“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,’” Trump stated.
The United States President cited alarming statistics indicating that Nigeria alone accounts for 3,100 out of the 4,476 Christian deaths recorded globally, emphasizing that the scale of violence in the country demands immediate international response.
“When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria, 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 continued.
By designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, Trump has effectively classified the country as high-risk for religious persecution, a move that could have significant diplomatic and policy implications.
Such a designation typically compels the U.S. government to consider sanctions and other measures against governments accused of tolerating or perpetrating religious oppression.
The Cable, a Nigerian online newspaper had released a report claiming that social media accounts linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) played significant roles in amplifying the “Christian genocide” in Nigeria.
Trump’s declaration comes amid mounting evidence from human rights organizations and Christian watchdog groups that tens of thousands of Nigerian Christians have been killed in the past few years, particularly across the Middle Belt and northern regions.
Reports from organizations such as Intersociety, Open Doors, and the International Christian Concern have accused the Nigerian government of failing to act decisively against extremist violence targeting Christians, sometimes aiding them.
“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries,” Trump warned. “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the world.”
Trump’s statement has resonated strongly among Christian advocacy groups, who view it as a long-overdue acknowledgment of what they call a silent genocide unfolding in Nigeria.
However, some observers caution that the move could strain diplomatic relations between Washington and Abuja, particularly if it leads to punitive measures or public pressure on the Nigerian government.
Still, the president’s declaration places renewed international attention on Nigeria’s worsening religious violence an issue that global rights bodies and faith-based organizations have consistently urged world leaders to confront with urgency.
