The United States has redesignated Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) due to allegations of widespread persecution and genocide against Christians.
This decision was announced by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform on Friday.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,”Trump stated, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
He added that Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and most populous nation, would be added to the State Department’s watch list.
Trump’s decision comes after Congressmen Riley Moore and Tom Cole, along with the House Appropriations Committee, were urged to investigate the matter.
“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries,”Trump said, highlighting the need for immediate action.
The CPC designation is typically given by the US Secretary of State under authority delegated by the President.
Persecondnews recalls that Nigeria was first designated a CPC in 2020, during Trump’s first term, but the designation was later removed by the Biden administration.
However, with Trump’s redesignation, Nigeria faces potential diplomatic and economic consequences, including sanctions and restrictions on US foreign aid.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly denied allegations of targeted killings of Christians, with President Bola Tinubu describing the claims as unfounded.
Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria is built on faith and resilience, with no religion under threat.
Members of Trump’s administration, including Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs, have also debunked the claims, stating that people of all religions and tribes are victims of terrorist acts in Nigeria.
Persecondnews reports that Trump’s latest policy announcement comes amid rising concerns over security in Nigeria, following a violent attack in Kaduna State where gunmen killed a pastor and abducted several others.
The assailants reportedly stormed the area in the early hours of Tuesday, shooting sporadically and causing widespread panic.
Church members were among those kidnapped during the raid.
According to a statement by the National President of HEKAN, Reverend Amos Kiri, the slain cleric and several residents had taken refuge in a nearby farm as gunfire erupted.
When the shooting subsided, Reverend Kambasya emerged from hiding, believing the attackers had retreated, but was tragically shot in the chest and died instantly.
Kiri condemned the continued targeting of church members, recalling that in December 2024, the same community suffered a similar attack where 50 people, including another pastor, Reverend Francis Lawal, were abducted.
One of the kidnapped victims later died in captivity.
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