Trump Redesignates Nigeria as “Country of Particular Concern” Over Christian Killings
In response to growing allegations of widespread violence and genocide against Christians in Nigeria, United States President Donald Trump has officially redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”, citing escalating attacks on Christian communities across the nation.
The announcement, obtained by PulseNets from Trump’s verified Truth Social page on Friday, marks a significant shift in Washington’s tone toward Nigeria’s human rights record.
“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 — and that’s just the beginning,” Trump wrote.
He further disclosed that he had directed Rep. Riley Moore, Rep. Tom Cole, and members of the House Appropriations Committee to launch an investigation into the situation and report their findings directly to him.
“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities continue in Nigeria and other nations. We are ready, willing, and able to protect our great Christian population around the world,” Trump added.
PulseNets learnt that Trump’s latest move follows mounting concerns from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which has consistently raised alarms over what it described as “systematic attacks, loss of life, and destruction of worship centres” in several parts of Northern Nigeria.
In a previous statement obtained by PulseNets, CAN lamented that the scale of killings and displacements had reached “alarming proportions,” urging the Nigerian government and security agencies to take urgent and transparent action to protect its citizens.
Lawmakers in the United States have also joined the growing calls for intervention. Earlier, Rep. Riley M. Moore addressed a letter dated October 6, 2025, to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, pressing for decisive diplomatic measures against the Nigerian government.
Moore, in a document seen by PulseNets, alleged that Nigeria has become “the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian,” calling on the U.S. government to halt arms sales and reimpose Nigeria’s CPC status under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act.
“The U.S. must use every diplomatic tool available to hold the Nigerian government accountable for the persecution and mass killings of Christians,” Moore’s letter read.
However, PulseNets reported that the Nigerian government has repeatedly dismissed claims of religiously targeted violence, maintaining that the attacks are largely perpetrated by criminal elements and extremist groups with no specific religious agenda.
Reacting to the designation, Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to the U.S. President on Arab and African Affairs, clarified in a media interaction seen by PulseNets that terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS have also killed large numbers of Muslims in Nigeria.
“Terrorism has no colour, no religion, no tribe. People of all faiths are victims of these acts. In fact, Boko Haram and ISIS have killed more Muslims than Christians,” Boulos stated.
He further emphasized the need for international collaboration to tackle insecurity, saying,
“Any loss of lives is one too many. We must build partnerships to end this violence. Some incidents in the Middle Belt involve farmers and herders, but we must avoid framing this as a purely religious conflict.”
Also Read: Trump Urged to Act Against Tinubu Government as Nigerian Military ‘Looks Away’ While Fulani Herdsmen Kill Christians — New York Post Editorial
Boulos also commended the Tinubu administration’s recent security initiatives, noting that progress is being made in affected regions.
“We’ve seen improvements. The Nigerian government is taking additional measures, deploying resources, and we appreciate those steps. Nigeria remains a country of unity where Christians and Muslims have lived in harmony for centuries,” he told PulseNets.
