U.S. President Donald Trump has designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” over growing allegations of widespread attacks and killings of Christians in the country.
Trump made the announcement on Friday via a post on Truth Social, which was also shared on the White House’s X account.
According to a 2022 report by the Family Research Council, the term “country of particular concern” is an official U.S. government label, usually issued by the Secretary of State. It’s applied to nations accused of violating human rights or acting against U.S. interests.
In his post, Trump said that Christianity is “under serious threat in Nigeria,” claiming that thousands of Christians have been killed by radical Islamist groups.
He wrote, “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.
“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!
“I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter and report back to me.”
Trump went on to say that the U.S. “cannot stand by while such atrocities continue” and expressed readiness to help protect Christian communities in Nigeria and other countries.
“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!” his post added.
His comments followed an appeal by U.S. Congressman Riley Moore, who urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take action against the “systematic persecution and mass killing of Christians” in Nigeria.
In Moore’s October 6 statement, the lawmaker described Nigeria as “the deadliest country in the world for Christians.”
Moore pushed for Nigeria to be redesignated as a Country of Particular Concern and for the U.S. to suspend arms sales until Nigeria shows real effort to end the violence.
He cited reports from groups like Open Doors claiming that more than 7,000 Christians have been killed in 2025 and over 19,000 churches destroyed since 2009.
Moore also alleged that some government officials may be complicit in the attacks, pointing to actions such as the closure of Christian orphanages in northern states and the enforcement of strict anti-blasphemy laws that carry long prison terms.
While admitting that Nigerians of all faiths face violence, he argued that Christians “remain the most targeted.”
He further claimed that Nigeria harbors “no fewer than 22 Islamist terror groups linked to ISIS and other global networks,” insisting that ignoring these facts “reflects poorly on the Nigerian government.”
Moore urged Rubio to apply all available diplomatic tools, including cutting off military assistance, and criticized the Biden administration for reversing Nigeria’s previous CPC designation, calling it “a mistake.”
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz also made similar remarks in September, accusing Nigerian authorities of “turning a blind eye” or even “aiding the killings of Christians by jihadist groups.”
Meanwhile, Evangelist Ezekiel Dachomo, a Plateau State cleric with the Church of Christ in Nations, gained attention after releasing a viral video showing a mass burial in Heipang, near Jos.
In an interview, he said the footage was meant to serve as evidence of what he described as an ongoing genocide against Christians.
Dachomo explained that the attack, carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen, claimed 11 lives, including children.
He said the government’s denial of such incidents prompted him to document the tragedy.
“The video is also evidence that a Christian genocide is going on in the North. The purpose is to help both present and future generations stand firm in Christ despite persecution and terror. It is also meant to guide them in soul-winning. If they don’t have a record that strengthens their faith, they may give up.
“This is what we are facing, and we have now resorted to self-defence; otherwise, the name of Jesus will not be mentioned again in our land. I want the world to know that we are going through the worst, as Jesus said, ‘You will be persecuted’. We are keeping records of what we are passing through, just as the Bible records what Christians endured.
“The incident happened last Thursday in Heipang, Jos, Plateau State. There is an airport there, and some Muslims have been trying to take control of the place. The village has been attacked several times because of this.
“On that fateful day, Fulani herdsmen invaded the village and killed 11 people. We rushed to the scene; children were butchered without conscience, yet the Nigerian government denied Christian genocide. We made the video to prove them wrong.”
However, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, rejected the genocide claims, saying that some U.S. lawmakers were basing their conclusions on “inaccurate and misleading data.”
Speaking on CNN, Idris said that the violence in Nigeria is not religiously motivated, stressing that both Christians and Muslims have been victims.
“These criminals target everyone,” he said, warning that false narratives could worsen divisions and embolden extremists.
In a statement by his aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, Idris reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom, human rights, and the rule of law.
“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,” Idris said.
Nigeria was first listed as a Country of Particular Concern in 2020 under Trump’s administration but was removed from the list the following year by President Joe Biden.
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