U.S. President Donald Trump has declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over what he described as widespread killings of Christians in the country —
Trump made the announcement in a post shared Friday on his Truth Social account, alleging that Christians in Nigeria are facing persecution at alarming levels.
“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’ — but that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide), something must be done!” Trump wrote.
The former president went further to call on U.S. lawmakers to take action on the issue.
“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,” he added.
Trump also reaffirmed his commitment to protecting Christians globally, saying, “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.”
FG Rejects Trump’s Claim
However, the federal government has rejected the claim, describing Trump’s comments as misleading and not representative of the country’s reality.
In a statement issued Saturday by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Government reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence among its citizens.
“Nigeria notes the recent remarks by U.S. President Donald J. Trump alleging large-scale killings of Christians in Nigeria and calling for the country’s designation as a ‘Country of Particular Concern,’” the statement read.
“While Nigeria appreciates global concern for human rights and religious freedom, these claims do not reflect the situation on the ground. Nigerians of all faiths have long lived, worked, and worshipped together peacefully,” it added.
What is “Country of Particular Concern”?
A “Country of Particular Concern” is an official designation used by the United States government under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998 to identify nations that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom. It means that the government of such a country is either directly responsible for, or has failed to prevent, systematic and ongoing persecution based on religion.
Countries placed on this list are regarded as major violators of religious freedom globally. The designation often comes with potential consequences, including diplomatic pressure, trade restrictions, or targeted sanctions, although such measures can be waived if deemed in the interest of the United States.
In essence, being named a Country of Particular Concern signals that the United States views that nation as failing to protect the fundamental right of its citizens to freely practice their faith.
Countries that have been designated in recent years include China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and, most recently, Nigeria — due to concerns over the persecution of Christians, Muslims, and other minority faiths.
