US President, Donald Trump has declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” and called for a congressional investigation into the mass killing of Christians in the country, which he described as an “existential threat” to the faith.
In a post on his TRUTH SOCIAL platform on Friday, Trump stated that “Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” and cited figures claiming 3,100 Christian deaths in Nigeria compared to 4,476 worldwide, though the post did not specify a time period or the source for these numbers.
“I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter, and report back to me,” Trump wrote, positioning himself as the central authority to receive the report despite not currently holding public office.
President Trump framed the issue as a global imperative for the United States, stating, “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!”
The announcement signals Trump’s intent to make international religious persecution, particularly of Christians, a central theme of his political platform. The term “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) is a formal designation used by the U.S. State Department for nations accused of severe violations of religious freedom.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has repeatedly recommended that the State Department designate Nigeria as a CPC, citing violence by Islamist extremist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), as well as deadly conflicts between predominantly Muslim herders and Christian farmers over land and resources.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected such characterizations, arguing that the violence is driven by complex factors including crime, resource scarcity, and political instability, rather than a systematic campaign of religious persecution.
As of now, there has been no immediate official reaction from the Nigerian government or from Congressman Moore’s office regarding the former president’s statement.
