Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s call to end the killing of Christians in the north of the country by stating officials are taking steps to safeguard religious freedoms.
In his Saturday address on X, Tinibu stated that Nigeria is steadfast in protecting religious liberty, adding that it does not tolerate religious persecution.
“Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions,” Tinubu said. “The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.”
Tinibu said his government is ready to work with the United States and other international bodies, “to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths.”
At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his government is ready to strike at the heart of the Islamic militants if the Nigerian government does act to end attacks on Christians. On Sunday Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the government will stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria “and may very well go into that now disgraced country ‘guns-a-blazing’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists.”
“I am hereby instructing the Department of War to prepare for possible action,” Trump said.
Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth underlined the preparedness of the U.S. to combat Islamic terrorists. In a statement on X, the secretary said the country is ready for any possible strike against the militants.
“The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria - and anywhere - must end immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Hegseth said.
U.S. House of Representatives member Riley Moore urged Tinubu to work with the U.S. in "preventing this atrocity that worsens everyday."
"President Trump has provided forewarning if you do not correct the current state of inaction to stop the killing of our brothers and sisters in Christ in your country," posted Moore on X.
Over the weekend Trump vowed to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to ongoing killings of Christians by Islamic militants.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. The CPC list identifies countries that engage in or tolerate “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.” Countries on the CPC list can face U.S. sanctions or diplomatic pressure to improve religious freedom conditions
In 2020, the U.S Department of State designated Nigeria as a CPC for the first time due to religious freedom violations. But in 2021, the designation was removed due to an evaluation that stated the violence was not religiously motivated.
Continued persecution of Christians
According to Open Doors research, more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined. Their research also states that about 16 million Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa, the majority being in Nigeria, have been driven out of their homes due to attacks and persecutions.
Somalia, Libya and Sudan are also highlighted in the Open Door’s report as countries that have seen high Christian persecution alongside Nigeria. Open Doors' January report put the number of Christians killed in Nigeria at 3,100. It also put the number of Christians abducted at 2,830 in the same period.
The northern part of Nigeria witnessed more killings and persecution of Christians, despite Nigeria having greater religious freedom. The population in the northern part is largely Muslim, with Christians making up only 26 percent.
“Christians living in the Sharia (Islamic law) states of northern Nigeria can also face discrimination and oppression as second-class citizens,” Open Doors noted. “Converts from Islam often experience rejection from their own families and pressure to renounce their new faith. They often have to flee their homes for fear of being killed.”
Recent reports show the continuing trend of Christians being targeted by Islamic forces. In April, 52 Christians were killed in a mass attack in Plateau state, Bokkos area. The Northern Christian Association of Nigeria condemned the attacks, raising concerns over the increase in religious violence. International Christian Concern reported that 85 Christians had been killed in a span of one week in the Middle Belt region in June.
A month later, seven Christians were killed in Kaduna state, five of them being children, exposing the ongoing onslaught on religious freedoms.
