Trump Declares Nigeria A ‘Country Of Particular Concern,’ Says Killing Of Christians Mass Slaughter

Trump Labels Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ Over Alleged Christian Killings

On October 31, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a strongly worded statement via his social media platform, Truth Social, declaring Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” due to what he described as mass killings of Christians.

Trump asserted that Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria, claiming that thousands of Christians have been killed by radical Islamist groups. He characterized the situation as a “mass slaughter” and emphasized that the United States could not remain passive in the face of such atrocities.

In his post, Trump cited figures suggesting that 3,100 Christians had been killed in Nigeria, comparing this to a global total of 4,476. He called on Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole to investigate the matter and report back to him. Trump’s statement concluded with a pledge that the United States stands ready to protect Christian populations worldwide.

The Nigerian government swiftly responded to these claims. In September, prior to Trump’s declaration, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had already dismissed similar allegations as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.” He argued that portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as religiously motivated misrepresents the reality on the ground. 

Idris emphasized that extremist violence in Nigeria affects citizens of all faiths, Muslims, Christians, and non-religious individuals alike. He noted that between May 2023 and February 2025, Nigerian security forces had killed over 13,500 terrorists and rescued nearly 10,000 hostages. He also pointed to the capture of top Ansaru leaders and over 700 convictions of Boko Haram suspects as evidence of Nigeria’s progress in combating terrorism.

Further countering the genocide narrative, Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to President Trump on Arab and African Affairs, visited Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on October 17. 

Boulos stated that terrorism in Nigeria transcends religious and ethnic boundaries, often affecting Muslims more than Christians. He stressed that extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS target anyone who opposes their ideology, regardless of faith.

In response to growing international concern, the Nigerian Senate formed a 12-member ad-hoc committee on October 14 to investigate allegations of Christian persecution. 

Senate President Godswill Akpabio tasked the committee with producing a fact-based report to guide Nigeria’s diplomatic response. The Senate also resolved to engage with the U.S. Congress to correct what it described as misleading narratives.

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) acknowledged that Christian communities have suffered repeated attacks and called for stronger government action. 

CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh urged authorities to protect citizens and ensure justice for victims. He emphasized that the pain endured by Christian families should not be reduced to mere statistics and highlighted CAN’s efforts to document religiously motivated violence and appeal to international bodies, including the International Criminal Court.

Minister Idris reiterated that Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to human rights and democracy. He also pointed out that the current heads of Nigeria’s armed forces and police are Christians, challenging the notion of a religiously biased security apparatus. He called on international observers and media platforms to avoid sensationalism and support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and criminality.