U.S. President Donald Trump has redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to alleged persecution and violence against Christians.
Announcing the decision on Friday via his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed deep concern over what he described as ongoing religious freedom violations and targeted attacks on Christian communities across Nigeria.
He wrote, “Christianity is facing 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.’”
The former president also urged U.S. lawmakers, including Congressman Riley Moore and Chairman Tom Cole, to investigate the matter and recommend decisive actions.
“When Christians, or any such group, are being slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria, something must be done. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world,” Trump stated.
The White House also shared Trump’s remarks on its official social media account, reaffirming his administration’s stance on protecting global Christian communities.
Earlier, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz alleged that over 50,000 Christians had been killed in Nigeria since 2009 — a claim that the Nigerian government has strongly denied. The statement sparked mixed reactions from both Christian and Muslim organizations, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
The renewed U.S. designation is expected to intensify diplomatic discussions between Washington and Abuja on religious tolerance and human rights protection.
