Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has responded to US President Donald Trump’s call to end the killings of Christians in northern Nigeria, saying authorities are taking steps to protect religious freedom.
In his speech on X on Saturday, Mr. Tinib added that Nigeria is firmly committed to protecting religious freedom and will not tolerate religious persecution.
“Since 2023, our administration has remained open and actively engaged with Christian and Muslim leaders alike to address security challenges that affect our people across faiths and regions,” Tinubu said. “Characterizing Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect the reality of our country, nor does it take into account the government’s consistent and sincere efforts to protect the freedom of religion and belief of all Nigerians.”
Mr. Tiniv said the government was ready to work with the United States and other international organizations to “deepen understanding and cooperation on the protection of communities of all faiths.”
At the same time, US President Donald Trump said his government was prepared to attack Islamic extremist centers if the Nigerian government took action to stop attacks on Christians. On Sunday, President Trump said on his Truth social platform that the government would cut off all aid and support to Nigeria and “could very well go ‘shooting guns’ into this now disgraced country to wipe out Islamic terrorists once and for all.”
“I hereby direct the Department of the Army to prepare for possible action,” Trump said.
Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth emphasized America’s preparedness to fight Islamic terrorists. In a statement on X, he said the country was prepared for any possible attack against extremists.
“The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and everywhere must stop immediately. The War Department is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrific atrocities,” Hegseth said.
U.S. Rep. Riley Moore urged Tinubu to work with the United States to “prevent this atrocity, which gets worse every day.”
“President Trump has issued a warning if you do not correct the current state of inaction to stop the murder of our brothers and sisters in Christ in your country,” Moore posted on X.
President Trump vowed over the weekend to re-designate Nigeria as a “country of special concern” as Islamic extremists continue to kill Christians.
“Christianity is facing an existential crisis in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being murdered. Islamic extremists are responsible for this genocide,” President Trump said on his platform Truth Social. The Chinese Communist Party’s list identifies countries that engage in or tolerate “systematic, sustained, and serious violations of religious freedom.” Countries on the CPC list may be subject to U.S. sanctions and diplomatic pressure to improve conditions for religious freedom.
In 2020, the US State Department designated Nigeria as a CPC for the first time due to violations of religious freedom. However, the designation was lifted in 2021 after it was determined that the violent acts were not religiously motivated.
Persecution of Christians continues
According to an Open Doors study, more Christians have been murdered for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined. Their research also states that around 16 million Christians in sub-Saharan Africa, the majority in Nigeria, have been forced to flee their homes due to attacks and persecution.
Somalia, Libya and Sudan are also cited in the Open Doors report as countries where Christian persecution is most severe, along with Nigeria. A January report from Open Doors put the number of Christians murdered in Nigeria at 3,100. Additionally, the number of Christians abducted during the same period is said to be 2,830.
The northern part of Nigeria witnessed more killings and persecution of Christians, even though Nigeria has greater religious freedom. The majority of the population in the north is Muslim, with only 26 percent Christian.
“Christians living in sharia (Islamic law) states in northern Nigeria may also face discrimination and repression as second-class citizens,” Open Doors said. “Converts from Islam often face rejection from their families and pressure to renounce their new faith. They often have to flee their homes for fear of being killed.”
Recent reports indicate that Christians continue to be targeted by Islamic groups. In April, 52 Christians were killed in a mass attack in the Bokkos area of Plateau state. The Christian Association of Northern Nigeria condemned the attack, raising concerns about an increase in religious violence. International Christian Concern reported that 85 Christians were killed in one week in the Middle Belt region in June.
A month later, seven Christians, five of them children, were murdered in Kaduna State, exposing continued attacks on religious freedom.
