U.S. President Donald Trump has formally designated Nigeria as a “Nation of Specific Concern,” citing reviews of widespread assaults on Christian communities that, he says, quantity to a mass slaughter.
The designation indicators heightened U.S. consideration and motion concerning spiritual freedom violations within the nation.
Trump’s place was shared in a social media publish on the official X account of the White Home on Friday, the place he described Christianity in Nigeria as dealing with an “existential risk.”
He mentioned 1000’s of Christians had been killed in assaults attributed to radical Islamist teams.
The President instructed Congressman Riley Moore, alongside Chairman Tom Cole and the Home Appropriations Committee, to analyze the killings and report again to him.
“Christianity is dealing with an existential risk in Nigeria. 1000’s of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are accountable for this mass slaughter. I’m hereby making Nigeria a “COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN” — However that’s the least of it,” Trump’s publish learn partly.
It added, “I’m asking Congressman Riley Moore, along with Chairman Tom Cole and the Home Appropriations Committee, to instantly look into this matter, and report again to me. The US can’t stand by whereas such atrocities are occurring in Nigeria, and quite a few different International locations.”
The U.S. President emphasised that the killings, reported to account for 3,100 of the 4,476 Christian deaths recorded worldwide, required a right away U.S. response. Trump mentioned that past declarations, the U.S. authorities should take tangible steps to stop additional assaults and assist persecuted spiritual teams.
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Trump’s assertion comes amid reviews of violent clashes throughout a number of components of Nigeria, with some rural Christian communities within the Center Belt and northern areas reportedly focused by Islamist extremists and armed militias.
Senator Marco Rubio, a U.S. lawmaker, described the scenario as “tragic and unacceptable,” including that america “stands prepared, keen, and in a position to act.”
- Whereas Nigeria’s authorities rejects claims of focused Christian persecution, it continues to face rising insecurity pushed by terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts. Trump’s name for a congressional evaluate might renew U.S. diplomatic concentrate on Nigeria’s human rights report and engagement with West Africa’s largest democracy.
- The U.S. Home Appropriations leaders praised the President’s motion, describing Nigeria as “probably the most harmful nation on Earth to observe Christ” and emphasizing that spiritual persecution won’t be tolerated.
- Based on data printed on the Home Appropriations Committee web site on Friday (https://appropriations.home.gov/), the Committee is advancing plans within the Fiscal 12 months 2026 appropriations course of to extend assist for worldwide spiritual freedom applications, strengthen oversight, and require the Division of State to justify any failure to behave on suggestions from america Fee on Worldwide Non secular Freedom.
The laws additionally continues funding for applications supporting communities in Nigeria affected by extremist violence. The Committee mentioned that Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Nation of Specific Concern underscores the urgency of addressing this human rights disaster and indicators bipartisan assist for defending spiritual freedom worldwide.