The Federal Government has dismissed comments by U.S. President Donald Trump alleging mass killings of Christians in Nigeria and designating the country a “Country of Particular Concern.”
In a statement on Saturday, November 1, 2025, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said Trump’s remarks “do not reflect the situation on the ground,” noting that Nigerians of all faiths “have long lived, worked, and worshipped together peacefully.”
The government reaffirmed its commitment under President Bola Tinubu to combat terrorism, promote interfaith harmony, and protect citizens’ rights. It added that Nigeria would continue engaging the U.S. “to deepen mutual understanding” on security and regional issues.
Trump, in a post shared on the White House’s X handle, claimed that “thousands of Christians are being killed” and called Nigeria “the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian.” He urged Congress to investigate and consider policy actions, including restrictions on U.S. arms sales.
Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, in an interview with CNN, countered that violence in Nigeria targets both Christians and Muslims, saying U.S. claims are based on “faulty data.”
Nigeria was previously placed on the U.S. religious freedom watchlist in 2020 during Trump’s first term but was removed under the Biden administration in 2021.
