On Saturday (November 1st), the government of Nigeria pledged to continue combating violent extremism and expressed its hope to maintain a close alliance with the United States. This West African nation made this statement as the U.S. President Trump cited threats to Christians as the reason for placing the country on the U.S. watchlist.
According to Reuters, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a release, “The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to protect the rights of all citizens, regardless of their race, faith, or religion. Like the U.S., Nigeria has no choice but to cherish our greatest asset – diversity.”
The ministry added, “Nigeria is a nation that fears God, we respect faith, tolerance, diversity, inclusivity, and abide by rules-based international order.”
Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil-producing nation and the most populous country. The day before the Nigerian Foreign Ministry issued the above statement, U.S. President Trump designated it as a “Country of Particular Concern.” Other countries on the list deemed to violate religious freedom include communist China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan.
President Trump on Friday (October 31st) stated on his social media platform “Truth Social,” “Christianity is facing a survival threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being brutally murdered.”
“Extreme Islamic militants are responsible for this large-scale massacre,” Trump said. “I hereby declare Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern.'”
The president also cited data, stating that action must be taken when 3,100 Christians or similar groups are killed in Nigeria.
“I urge Representative Riley Moore, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, and the Appropriations Committee to immediately investigate this matter and report back to me,” Trump said. “The United States cannot stand idly by in the face of such atrocities unfolding in Nigeria and many other countries. We are ready, willing, and able to save the great Christian communities around the world!”
During his first term, Trump also designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” but his Democratic successor, President Biden, removed Nigeria from the U.S. State Department’s list in 2021.
Nigeria is a country with over 200 ethnic groups where people practice Christianity, Islam, and traditional religions. The nation has a long history of peaceful coexistence, with mosques and churches scattered across cities. However, it also has a history of long-standing conflicts, with violence erupting between different groups from time to time, where religious differences can intertwine with other conflicts such as ethnic divides or disputes over scarce land and water resources.