Trump Labels Nigeria ‘Country of Particular Concern’ Over Alleged Christian Genocide 

By Chinedu Echianu

United States President Donald Trump has designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” following what he described as a Christian genocide in the country.

Trump made the declaration in a post on his Truth Social account on Friday, which was also shared via the White House’s X (formerly Twitter) handle.

“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,’” Trump wrote.

He urged the U.S. Congress to investigate the situation, directing Congressman Riley Moore, Chairman Tom Cole, and the House Appropriations Committee to “immediately look into the matter and report back.”

The U.S. president said Washington would not stand idly by while such “atrocities” occur, adding that America remains ready to “save our great Christian population around the world.”

According to the Family Research Council, the “country of particular concern” designation is an official U.S. government classification typically made by the Secretary of State to flag nations engaged in serious violations of religious freedom or human rights.

Cleric’s Video Sparks Global Attention:

Trump’s declaration comes amid global outrage following a viral video by Evangelist Ezekiel Dachomo, a Plateau-based cleric and regional leader of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN). The video, which showed the mass burial of victims of an attack in Heipang, near Jos, drew renewed attention to the spate of violence in the region.

In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Dachomo insisted that the repeated attacks in Plateau communities amounted to genocide against Christians.

“The video is evidence that a Christian genocide is going on in the North. Children were butchered without conscience, yet the government denies this reality,” he said, adding that some residents have fled the region for safety.

The cleric alleged that the attackers, identified as Fulani herdsmen, invaded Heipang last Thursday, killing 11 people and kidnapping the wife of a local reverend, among other victims.

Nigeria Rejects Genocide Allegations:

Reacting to Trump’s statement and similar claims from some U.S. lawmakers, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed the allegations as misleading.

Speaking on CNN and in a statement by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, Idris said the U.S. position was based on “faulty data and incorrect assumptions.”

“Yes, Christians are being attacked, but these criminals do not target one religion. They attack both Christians and Muslims, especially in northern Nigeria,” the minister explained.

He emphasized that the Nigerian government remains committed to religious freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, warning that narratives portraying the crisis as religious could embolden criminal groups seeking to sow division.