The United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Michael Waltz, and American rapper Nicki Minaj have expressed deep concern over the rising wave of killings and religious violence in Nigeria. Their comments were made during a UN forum on global religious freedom titled “Combatting Religious Violence and the Killing of Christians in Nigeria.”
Waltz described the situation in parts of Nigeria as “genocide disguised as chaos,” highlighting repeated attacks on Christian communities in the North and Middle Belt. He cited cases of churches being burned, pastors beheaded, and families forced to flee because of their faith.
According to him, the violence is systematic and targeted, not random. He also referenced the recent abduction of schoolchildren, saying, “Just yesterday, 25 little girls were taken from their school.”
He noted that international watchdog Open Doors reports that Nigeria accounts for 80% of all global violence against Christians, calling it a humanitarian crisis that demands urgent global attention.
Waltz praised former US President Donald Trump for consistently speaking up on the issue, saying Trump’s leadership helped spotlight the persecution of Christians around the world.
Nicki Minaj, who also addressed the event, said the attacks in Nigeria reflect a broader global struggle for religious freedom. She condemned the displacement and killings of Christian families, stressing that many communities now live in constant fear simply because of their faith.
Minaj urged world leaders to take stronger action, thanking Trump for prioritising the protection of persecuted Christians and calling for renewed global cooperation to uphold freedom of belief.
The conversation comes shortly after Trump referred to the crisis in Nigeria as a “Christian genocide” and announced plans to classify Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has rejected claims of religious persecution, insisting that the insecurity across the country is driven by criminal activity, not faith-based violence. However, American officials continue to raise alarms over the pattern of targeted attacks.
