The President Ahmed Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has slammed U.S. President Donald Trump over his explosive claim that Christians are being slaughtered in Nigeria, calling his remarks “false, misleading, and unfair.”
In a statement on Saturday, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa dismissed Trump’s declaration of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” insisting the U.S. leader’s comments do not reflect the reality on the ground.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria notes the recent remarks by US President Donald Trump alleging large-scale killings of Christians in Nigeria and calling for the country’s designation as a ‘Country of Particular Concern.’
“These claims do not reflect the situation on the ground. Nigerians of all faiths have long lived, worked, and worshipped together peacefully,” the ministry stated.
While acknowledging global interest in human rights and religious freedom, the government maintained that the allegations were inaccurate, stressing that under President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria “remains committed to fighting terrorism, strengthening interfaith harmony, and protecting the lives and rights of all its people.”
The ministry added that Nigeria would “continue engaging constructively with the U.S. Government to deepen mutual understanding of regional dynamics and the country’s ongoing peace and security efforts.”
Trump, in a Truth Social post later amplified by the White House’s X handle, claimed Christianity faced an “existential threat” in Nigeria, announcing that he had designated the country as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
“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,” Trump wrote.
The outspoken Republican, cited disturbing figures, “3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide”, and demanded congressional action.
“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,” he said.
“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other countries.
“We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the world!,” Trump added.
Trump’s post comes on the heels of fresh pressure from U.S. lawmakers.
Congressman Riley Moore recently called for halting arms sales to Nigeria, describing it as “the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian.”
“Nigeria has become the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian, and the United States cannot stand idly by,” Moore wrote.
But Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, pushed back hard during an interview with CNN.
“Some of the claims made by some officials of the United States are based on faulty data and some assumptions that the victims of this violence are largely Christians.
“Yes, there are Christians being attacked, but these criminals do not just target one religion. They target Christians. They also target Muslims. We have seen that especially in the northern part of the country,” the minister said.
