The President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, has raised global concern over what he describes as a “mass slaughter” of Christians in Nigeria, calling the situation an “existential threat” to the Christian faith in Africa’s most populous nation.
President Trump made the statement during a White House briefing, announcing that Nigeria has been redesignated as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act. The move places Nigeria under closer U.S. scrutiny for alleged violations of religious freedom.
“Thousands of Christians are being killed in Nigeria every year. Radical Islamists are behind this mass slaughter,” President Trump declared. “The United States stands ready, willing and able to save Christians around the world from persecution.”
The President’s remarks have reignited international debate over the ongoing violence in Nigeria — especially in the Middle Belt and northern regions, where deadly clashes and terrorist attacks have displaced thousands of families.
While several human rights organizations have accused Nigerian authorities of not doing enough to protect Christian communities, local experts argue that the crisis is multi-faceted, involving banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, terrorism, and ethnic rivalries.
Following the President’s remarks, U.S. lawmakers including Riley Moore and Tom Cole have expressed support for the move, calling for congressional oversight and possible targeted sanctions against individuals or entities implicated in religiously motivated violence.
In response, the Nigerian government has rejected claims of a Christian genocide, insisting that the insecurity affects both Christians and Muslims alike.
Officials emphasize that the administration is intensifying military operations against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed bandit groups responsible for widespread killings and kidnappings
