US President Trump declares Nigeria ‘country of particular concern’ over Christian ‘genocide’ claims
The decision is a repudiation of his advisor for Africa, Mossad Bullos, who recently rejected claims that a “genocide” against Christians was taking place in Nigeria.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria and he was adding the West African nation to a State Department watch list for countries of “particular concern.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed thousands of Christians were being killed in Nigeria, citing a figure of 3,100 Christians killed there but without giving details on source of the information.
It is a repudiation of his advisor for Africa, Mossad Bullos, who recently rejected claims that a “genocide” against Christians was taking place in Nigeria.
“The United States can not stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other countries,” Trump said in his post.
He directed US Congressman Riley Moore, together with House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, to immediately investigate the matter and report back to him.
‘Inaccurate and harmful’
The Nigerian government has not yet reacted to Trump’s announcement.
However, officials of the West African country have recently rejected claims by a US senator that a genocide against Christians was taking place.
”While Nigeria, like many countries, has faced security challenges, including acts of terrorism perpetrated by criminals, couching the situation as a deliberate, systematic attack on Christians is inaccurate and harmful,” Nigeria’s minister of information Mohammed Idris said at a press conference recently in the capital, Abuja.
Recommended
Guinea-Bissau arrests army commanders for alleged coup attempt
US, UK pull some embassy workers from Mali
Trump limits number of refugees and prioritises White South Africans
How Africa’s cleanest cities define a changing continent
“It oversimplifies a complex, multifaceted security environment and plays into the hands of terrorists and criminals who seek to divide Nigerians along religious or ethnic lines.”’
“The violent activities of terrorist groups are not confined to any particular religious or ethnic community,” Idris added.
“These criminals target all who reject their murderous ideology, regardless of faith. Muslims, Christians, and even those who do not identify with any religion have suffered at their hands.”
Deflect attention
“The Federal Government remains unwavering in its commitment to completely degrading terrorist groups and securing the lives and property of all citizens,” the minister added.
Some analysts say the narratives by some top US officials of alleged genocide against Christians in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, could be a tactic to deflect attention from the ongoing US-backed Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, where more than 170,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.
Nigeria’s population is almost even between Christians and Muslims – with the Muslims mostly in the north and the Christians mainly in the south.
Both Christian and Islamic leaders have been calling for caution and calm on the so-called ”genocide” rhetoric in the West African country.
US President Trump declares Nigeria ‘country of particular concern’ over Christian ‘genocide’ claims
The decision is a repudiation of his advisor for Africa, Mossad Bullos, who recently rejected claims that a “genocide” against Christians was taking place in Nigeria.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria and he was adding the West African nation to a State Department watch list for countries of “particular concern.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed thousands of Christians were being killed in Nigeria, citing a figure of 3,100 Christians killed there but without giving details on source of the information.
It is a repudiation of his advisor for Africa, Mossad Bullos, who recently rejected claims that a “genocide” against Christians was taking place in Nigeria.
“The United States can not stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other countries,” Trump said in his post.
He directed US Congressman Riley Moore, together with House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, to immediately investigate the matter and report back to him.
‘Inaccurate and harmful’
The Nigerian government has not yet reacted to Trump’s announcement.
However, officials of the West African country have recently rejected claims by a US senator that a genocide against Christians was taking place.
”While Nigeria, like many countries, has faced security challenges, including acts of terrorism perpetrated by criminals, couching the situation as a deliberate, systematic attack on Christians is inaccurate and harmful,” Nigeria’s minister of information Mohammed Idris said at a press conference recently in the capital, Abuja.
“It oversimplifies a complex, multifaceted security environment and plays into the hands of terrorists and criminals who seek to divide Nigerians along religious or ethnic lines.”’
“The violent activities of terrorist groups are not confined to any particular religious or ethnic community,” Idris added.
“These criminals target all who reject their murderous ideology, regardless of faith. Muslims, Christians, and even those who do not identify with any religion have suffered at their hands.”
Deflect attention
“The Federal Government remains unwavering in its commitment to completely degrading terrorist groups and securing the lives and property of all citizens,” the minister added.
Some analysts say the narratives by some top US officials of alleged genocide against Christians in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, could be a tactic to deflect attention from the ongoing US-backed Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, where more than 170,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.
Nigeria’s population is almost even between Christians and Muslims – with the Muslims mostly in the north and the Christians mainly in the south.
Both Christian and Islamic leaders have been calling for caution and calm on the so-called ”genocide” rhetoric in the West African country.
1SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER NOW
Support MATAZ ARISING’ journalism of integrity and credibility.
Good journalism ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
We ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
TEXT AD: To advertise here – Email ad@matazarising.com
LATEST POSTS
BOUNTY HUNTERS AND PRIVATE MILITARY COMPANIES CAN STOP TERROR IN NIGERIA
Basil Okoh MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas The Nigerian government, its military and security experts keep playing games with the issues of national security while citizens die, abducted for ransom or are maimed by bandits, terrorists and outlaws who have taken over the open spaces and forests across the nation. The Nigerian military are already too deeply…
Tinubu returns to Abuja after Abu Dhabi summit, Paris holiday
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, where he witnessed the signing of a trade agreement between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates. Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the President’s return in a statement released on Saturday. The statement…
Fear of deportation drives undocumented Africans to sleep in bins on UK streets
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas Several undocumented Nigerians and other African migrants in the United Kingdom are resorting to sleeping in waste bins and on the streets as fear of arrest and deportation intensifies following a sweeping crackdown under the UK government’s new immigration regime. The development comes amid the implementation of the UK’s 2025 immigration overhaul,…
