Trump Designates Nigeria as ‘Country of Particular Concern’ Over Alleged Christian Killings

United States President Donald Trump has designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” following allegations of widespread attacks on Christians in the country.

Trump made the announcement in a post on his Truth Social account on Friday, which was later shared on the White House’s official X handle.

According to a 2022 publication by the Family Research Council, the “country of particular concern” label is an official U.S. government designation—usually made by the Secretary of State—under laws relating to religious freedom and human rights. It typically applies to nations accused of violating fundamental rights or engaging in activities contrary to U.S. interests.

In his post, Trump 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 added that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening” in Nigeria and other nations, pledging that Washington “stands ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.”

Earlier this month, U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore had urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take diplomatic action against what he described as “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in Nigeria. Moore called for Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and for the suspension of arms sales to Abuja until it demonstrates a “tangible commitment” to ending the violence.

“Nigeria has become the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian, and the United States cannot stand idly by,” Moore said in his October 6 statement.

Citing figures from Open Doors and other reports, he claimed that more than 7,000 Christians have been killed in 2025 alone and that “at least 19,100 churches have been attacked or destroyed since 2009.”

Moore also alleged that “corrupt elements within the Nigerian government may be complicit” in some of the attacks, claiming that in states such as Kano, regional authorities have closed Christian orphanages and forced children to be reeducated as Muslims. He further referenced the enforcement of harsh anti-blasphemy laws that impose long prison terms for “insulting the Prophet Mohammed.”

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While acknowledging that Nigerians of all faiths face terrorism, Moore argued that Christians “remain the most targeted for persecution and violence,” adding that Nigeria “is the headquarters of no fewer than 22 Islamic terror groups linked to ISIS and other networks.”

He said attempts to downplay the situation “do not speak well of the Nigerian government.”