The Federal Government of Nigeria has rejected recent remarks by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, alleging mass killings of Christians in Nigeria and declaring the country a “Country of Particular Concern.”
In a statement issued on Saturday morning by Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government said the claims “do not reflect the situation on the ground.”
“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’. These claims do not reflect the situation on the ground. Nigerians of all faiths have long lived, worked, and worshipped together peacefully,” the statement said.
While the government said it “appreciates global concern for human rights and religious freedom,” it maintained that the allegations were inaccurate. Under the leadership of Bola Tinubu, Nigeria “remains committed to fighting terrorism, strengthening inter-faith harmony, and protecting the lives and rights of all its people,” the ministry added.
The statement emphasised that Nigeria would “continue to engage constructively with the Government of the United States to deepen mutual understanding of regional dynamics and the country’s ongoing peace and security efforts.”
On Friday night, President Trump announced via his Truth Social account, subsequently shared on the White House’s 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) handle, that he had designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing what he described as an existential threat to Christianity in the country:
“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,” he said.
Citing what he said were shocking figures, Trump added, “When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done!”
He called on key members of Congress to take immediate action, “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.
“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the world!”
This move comes amid earlier calls from U.S. lawmakers such as Riley Moore, who had urged the U.S. Secretary of State to take diplomatic action against what they described as “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in Nigeria, even calling for the suspension of arms sales to Nigeria.
The Nigerian government, through Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, has previously rejected claims that terrorists in Nigeria specifically target Christians.
“Some of the claims made by some officials of the United States are based on faulty data and some assumptions that the victims of this violence are largely Christians. 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,” he said.
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