United States President Donald Trump has designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” alleging widespread persecution and mass killings of Christians in the country.
In a statement posted on Truth Social on Friday, Trump claimed that “radical Islamists” were responsible for what he described as the “mass slaughter” of Christians.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” he wrote.
Trump said the U.S. “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening,” directing Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole to investigate the matter.
“When Christians, or any such group, is 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,” he added.
The U.S. president asserted that America stands “ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.”
Trump’s declaration follows increasing criticism from American politicians and public figures who claim that Christians in Nigeria face systematic persecution.
U.S. comedian and HBO host Bill Maher recently accused Islamist groups of committing genocide against Christians, saying:
“They’ve killed over a hundred thousand since 2009 and burnt 18,000 churches… They are literally attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country.”
Similarly, Senator Ted Cruz alleged that Nigerian officials were “ignoring and even facilitating” the killings, calling for punitive action.
“It’s long past time to impose real costs on those responsible,” Cruz said, revealing he had introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act to sanction complicit officials.
Congressman Riley Moore also urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to impose arms and aid restrictions on Nigeria until it demonstrates commitment to ending the alleged persecution.
