Nigeria’s government on Saturday rejected claims by U.S. President Donald Trump alleging widespread killings of Christians in the country and designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Trump’s remarks “do not reflect the situation on the ground” and emphasized that Nigerians of all faiths have “long lived, worked, and worshipped together peacefully.” The ministry spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said Nigeria “appreciates global concern for human rights and religious freedom,” but the allegations were inaccurate.
Under President Bola Tinubu, the statement added, Nigeria remains committed to fighting terrorism, promoting interfaith harmony, and protecting the rights and lives of all its citizens. It also said the country would continue to engage constructively with the United States to enhance mutual understanding of regional dynamics and ongoing peace and security efforts.
Trump announced on Friday in a Truth Social post, later shared on X, that he had designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing what he described as an existential threat to Christianity in the country. He claimed thousands of Christians were being killed by “radical Islamists” and called on U.S. lawmakers to take action.
Earlier, U.S. Congressman Riley Moore had urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take diplomatic steps against what he described as the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in Nigeria and called for a suspension of arms sales until the government demonstrated tangible efforts to curb violence.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, speaking to CNN, rejected claims that terrorists specifically target Christians, noting that attacks in the northern part of the country affect both Christians and Muslims.
Separately, the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, called for stronger protection of vulnerable communities and greater accountability in addressing violence across Nigeria.