*Cruz, Christian Group Welcome Designation
THE Federal Government has denied allegations by the United States (US) President, Donald Trump, that Christianity faces existential threats in Nigeria.
Trump had on Friday, October 31, designated Nigeria “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged genocide of Christians, barely three months after Washington imposed tough visa restrictions on Nigerians, limiting most travel visas to single-entry, three-month validity.
Trump, in the announcement via a post on his Truth Social platform, shared on the official White House X handle, said Nigeria was facing an “existential threat” to Christianity, adding: “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, are slaughtered, like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide), something must be done!”
He directed Congressman, Riley Moore, and Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Tom Cole, to immediately investigate the alleged killings and report back to him.
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.”
The lastest designation brings to mind events of December 2020, when Trump, in his first term, designated Nigeria as a CPC under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, citing “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom,” during the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
That was later reversed by his successor, President Joe Biden, in November 2021, after then secretary of State, Antony Blinken, had argued that while Nigeria faced severe security challenges, the government was not “directly engaged” in religious persecution.
By reintroducing the designation, the Trump administration ostensibly declaring that the situation has worsened and that the Federal Government has failed to act decisively to stop violence targeting Christians and minority faiths.
The decision marks a significant policy signal, renewing international attention on the alleged worsening human rights and religious freedom crisis in Nigeria, where extremist groups, such as Boko Haram, ISWAP and Fulani militants, have continued to carry out devastating attacks on Christian communities, often with impunity.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement released on Saturday, November 1, described Trump’s claim that extremist groups were killing thousands of Christians on a large scale as inaccurate and not reflective of the true security situation in Nigeria.
It stated that religious freedom has not been impeded in Nigeria and Christians have the freedom to practise their faith across the country.
According to the statement: “The Federal Government of Nigeria notes the recent remarks by the US 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.
“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.”
The ministry reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to combating terrorism, fostering interfaith harmony and safeguarding the lives and rights of all citizens, assuring that Nigeria would continue to engage constructively with the US Government to enhance mutual understanding of the country’s security realities and peacebuilding efforts.
Earlier on Tuesday, October 28, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in response to the allegationa, said some US lawmakers were relying on inaccurate and misleading data to allege a so-called Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Speaking on a CNN programme, Idris described the claims as “misleading and unreflective” of Nigeria’s complex security realities, reaffirming that Nigeria remains firmly committed to upholding religious freedom, human rights, the rule of law and democracy.
He stated: “Some of the claims made by officials of the United States are based on faulty data and the assumption that victims of violence are largely Christians.
“Yes, there are Christians being attacked, but these criminals do not target one religion; they attack both Christians and Muslims, especially in the northern part of the country.”
He cautioned that promoting such narratives could inadvertently embolden criminal groups whose goal is to incite religious tension and fuel animosity between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria.
However, the International Christian Concern, through its President, Shawn Wright, welcomed news of the designation, saying: “We are deeply grateful for this important recognition.”
According to Wright: “It represents a significant step toward mobilising the global community to confront the atrocities that have devastated so many families and communities in Nigeria.
“Our prayer is that this designation will encourage other world leaders to follow suit and that it will lead to tangible actions that bring relief and lasting change for those suffering at the hands of violent extremists.”
In the first seven months of 2025 alone, over 7,000 Christians have been reportedly killed, an average of 35 deaths per day, a development that led Moore to request that Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, designate Nigeria as a CPC, on October 5.
According to Moore: “Christians are being persecuted and killed in Nigeria for professing their faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
“The killings must stop. That’s why I’m urging @SecRubio to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. We must use every diplomatic tool to end this horrific slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
In a recent interview, Moore described Nigeria as the most dangerous place in the world for Christians, noting that 82 per cent of persecuted Christians killed between October 2022 and September 2023 died in Nigeria, adding that many Americans and people worldwide remain unaware of the ongoing violence in the country.
“The United States cannot stand idly by while believers are slaughtered. We must acknowledge the religious nature of this scourge of anti-Christian violence from radical Islamic terrorists.
“It’s time for the United States to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ, and designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern will provide the diplomatic tools necessary to do just that.
“I urge Secretary Rubio to designate Nigeria as a CPC without delay,” he wrote on X
The recent violence also prompted Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to introduce legislation aimed at holding Nigerian officials accountable for facilitating Islamic jihadist attacks on Christians.
Public figures in the media, including Bill Maher, have also called for greater awareness of this persecution and challenged the media to highlight the issue.
Meanwhile, Cruz has commended Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a CPC, describing the move as a decisive step toward addressing the persecution of Christians in the country.
Cruz, while noting that he had long advocated stronger measures against religious persecution in Nigeria, added: “I am deeply gratified to President Trump for making this determination.
“I have fought for years to counter the slaughter and persecution of Christians in Nigeria, and this year introduced legislation that will lock in the designation made today.
“Today’s designation is a critical step in holding accountable and changing the behaviour of Nigerian officials, who have facilitated and created an environment conducive to the outrages in Nigeria.
“I am committed to working with the administration and my colleagues to advance my Bill and implement these necessary measures.
“Today’s decision by President Trump is a great one, and I thank him for his strong leadership.”
Cruz introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 in the Senate to designate Nigeria as a CPC and take immediate diplomatic action against Nigerian officials facilitating Islamist jihadist violence.
The Bill protects Christians and other religious minorities being persecuted in Nigeria by holding Nigerian officials who facilitate Islamist jihadist violence and imposition of blasphemy laws accountable.
