The United States has designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” after former President Donald Trump raised alarm about the killing of Christians in the West African nation.
Trump made the announcement on Friday in a post on X, saying that Christianity faces 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,” Trump said.
He added that when Christians, or any group, are slaughtered as they are in Nigeria, action must be taken.
According to him, the number of Christian deaths in Nigeria is alarming, citing figures of 3,100 in the country compared to 4,476 worldwide.
Trump said he had asked Congressman Riley Moore, along with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, “to immediately look into this matter.”
He said the United States cannot remain silent while such violence continues in Nigeria and other countries.
“We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world,” Trump added.
The Nigerian government has yet to issue an official response to the designation.
