Trump Redesignates Nigeria as Country of Particular Concern Over Alleged Christian Killings

The United States has once again designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) after former President Donald Trump alleged that Christians in the country face mass persecution and killings.

Trump made the announcement following campaigns by several Western right-wing figures who accused Nigerian authorities of allowing what they described as “Christian genocide.”

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” Trump said on Friday. “Thousands of Christians are being killed by radical Islamists. I am hereby redesignating Nigeria as a country of particular concern, but that is only the beginning.”

Nigeria was previously on the CPC list during Trump’s first term in 2020 before being removed by President Joe Biden in 2021.

Responding to the move, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, rejected the characterization, insisting that violence in the country is not driven by religion. “Nigeria is a multi-religious nation united against terrorism, banditry, and extremism,” he said.

Trump said he has asked U.S. lawmakers, including Congressman Riley Moore and Chairman Tom Cole, to investigate the situation further. “When Christians or any group are being slaughtered, something must be done,” he added.

While Nigeria’s northeast continues to face attacks from Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates, experts note that much of the violence elsewhere stems from criminality and resource conflicts rather than religion.

Analysts warn that portraying Nigeria’s complex insecurity as a religious war oversimplifies deeper issues such as land disputes, poverty, and climate change.

AFP contributed to this report.