United States President Donald Trump has repeated claims that Christians in Nigeria are being subjected to mass killings, warning that the alleged attacks amount to an existential threat to Christianity in the country.
Trump, in a video uploaded by the White House on X on Wednesday, said “thousands and thousands” of Christians were being killed, blaming “radical Islamists” for what he described as a “mass slaughter.”
He said, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands and thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.”
In the clip, Trump announced that he was classifying Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” adding that the designation was based on a legal standard.
“I am hereby making Nigeria a country of particular concern. That’s a legal definition.
“When the Christians or any such group is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria, 3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide,” he said.
Calling for urgent action, Trump said the statistics were horrific and demanded immediate congressional response.
“What horrible numbers. Something has to 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 to report back to me. And I mean like immediately,” he added.
Trump said the United States cannot stand by while such incidents take place, saying the killing of Christians will not be allowed.
“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 is not going to happen. The killing of Christians is not going to happen,” he stated.
He had earlier threatened to deploy US Department of War to Nigeria if what he described as Christian genocide is not halted.