Former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed grave concern over what he described as an “existential threat” facing Christians in Nigeria, urging American lawmakers to investigate what he termed a “mass slaughter.”
In a post shared on his Truth Social platform on Friday, Trump alleged that “radical Islamists” were responsible for widespread killings of Christians across Nigeria, though he provided no evidence to back up his claims. He further declared that he was naming Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” a U.S. State Department designation reserved for nations accused of committing severe violations of religious freedom.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump said. He added, “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world!”
Trump also directed two federal lawmakers to investigate the issue, emphasizing his commitment to defending Christians globally.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is nearly evenly split between a Muslim-majority north and a largely Christian south. While the country has battled jihadist insurgencies led by Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast for more than 15 years—violence that has claimed over 40,000 lives—experts note that many other conflicts in the country are driven more by economic, political, and environmental pressures than by religion.
Security analysts argue that criminal gangs, often referred to as bandits, have terrorized parts of the northwest and north-central regions without any clear religious motive. These groups raid villages, kidnap residents for ransom, and destroy homes, deepening insecurity across rural Nigeria.
In the Middle Belt, clashes between predominantly Muslim herders and mainly Christian farmers have further fueled perceptions of religious conflict. However, experts insist the underlying issue is competition for dwindling land and water resources worsened by climate change and population growth.
Although Trump’s remarks have reignited debate about religious freedom in Nigeria, local authorities and observers have long warned that simplifying the country’s complex security challenges into a Christian-versus-Muslim narrative risks deepening division rather than fostering peace.
