The Federal Government has dismissed remarks by United States President Donald Trump alleging widespread killings of Christians in Nigeria and labeling the country as a “Country of Particular Concern,” describing the claims as inaccurate and misleading.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government said the U.S. president’s assertions did not reflect the true situation in the country.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria notes the recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump alleging large-scale killings of Christians in Nigeria and calling for the country’s designation as a ‘Country of Particular Concern.’ These claims do not reflect the situation on the ground. Nigerians of all faiths have long lived, worked, and worshipped together peacefully,” the ministry stated.
Okay News reports that the government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting human rights, ensuring religious freedom, and maintaining peace across all regions. It emphasized that Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration remains focused on strengthening national security and interfaith harmony.
“The Federal Government appreciates global concern for human rights and religious freedom. However, these allegations are inaccurate. Under the leadership of President Tinubu, Nigeria remains committed to fighting terrorism, promoting unity, and safeguarding the rights of every citizen,” the ministry added.
The statement also stressed that Nigeria will continue to engage diplomatically with the United States to deepen understanding of regional security challenges and ongoing peace efforts.
Trump, in a post shared on his Truth Social platform and the White House’s X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, announced the designation, claiming that Christianity was facing an “existential threat” in Nigeria.
“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,” Trump declared.
The U.S. president further cited alarming figures, alleging that over 3,000 Christians had been killed in Nigeria, and urged Congress to take immediate action. “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!” he added.
Reacting to the claims, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told CNN that the claims of religiously motivated killings were based on false data and misconceptions.
“Some of the claims made by some officials of the United States are based on faulty data and assumptions that the victims of violence are largely Christians,” Idris said. “Yes, there are Christians being attacked, but these criminals do not just target one religion. They target Christians and Muslims alike. We have seen that especially in the northern part of the country.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Congressman Riley Moore recently urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take diplomatic action against what he described as the “persecution of Christians” in Nigeria, calling for the suspension of arms sales to the country.
In response, the Federal Government maintained that such statements fail to recognize Nigeria’s ongoing military operations against terrorists and bandits threatening both Christian and Muslim communities.
The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs also weighed in earlier in the week, urging Nigeria to strengthen protection for vulnerable groups while ensuring accountability in addressing violence.
With the latest exchange, diplomatic attention between Washington and Abuja appears set to intensify, as both nations seek to balance concerns about human rights with the realities of Nigeria’s internal security challenges.
