United States President Donald Trump has announced the redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing allegations of a Christian genocide in the country.
Trump made the announcement on Friday via his Truth Social account, claiming that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria.
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’, but that is the least of it,” he wrote.
He noted that the U.S. must act, directing members of Congress to investigate the situation. “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world,” Trump added.
Trump’s comments echo concerns raised by U.S. lawmakers. Senator Ted Cruz accused Nigerian authorities of “ignoring and even facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists,” while Representatives Riley Moore and Chris Smith have pushed for Nigeria’s redesignation over alleged religious repression. Even comedian Bill Maher recently described the situation as a “Christian genocide.”
However, the Nigerian government has strongly denied these claims.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the allegations as misleading and unreflective of Nigeria’s complex security realities. Speaking on CNN, he said the right to freedom of religion is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to national security and unity.
“Some of the claims by U.S. officials are based on faulty data and assumptions that the victims of violence are largely Christians,” Idris said. “Yes, there are Christians being attacked, but these criminals do not just target one religion. They also target Muslims, especially in the northern part of the country.”
Similarly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the international community to disregard what it called “unfounded allegations” of genocide.
Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said such claims misrepresent Nigeria’s security situation and oversimplify its challenges.
“I must state categorically that the allegations are false and baseless. They represent a gross misrepresentation of the complex security situation in Nigeria and a dangerous oversimplification of the challenges we face as a nation,” Ebienfa stated.
He added that Nigeria remains a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society where Christians and Muslims have coexisted peacefully for generations, and that the government remains committed to protecting all citizens.
“Nigeria remains a beacon of religious freedom and diversity in Africa,” he said. “We urge our international partners to seek verified information from official channels and engage in constructive dialogue with the Nigerian government.”
