Trump Condemns “Mass Slaughter” of Christians
President Donald Trump has officially designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing what he called the “mass slaughter” of Christians by radical Islamist militants. The declaration marks the United States’ strongest possible rebuke for religious persecution under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. It could result in sanctions, restrictions on aid, or limits on arms sales unless waived for national security reasons.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “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 pointed to shocking statistics compiled by watchdog groups showing that more than 7,000 Christians have been killed so far in 2025, and that over 70 percent of all Christians murdered worldwide this year were killed in Nigeria. “When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered like what is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide), something must be done,” he wrote.
He directed Congressman Riley Moore of West Virginia and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole of Oklahoma to review the matter and report back immediately. “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria,” Trump said. “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.”
A Nation Drenched in Violence
The scale of the crisis is staggering. According to the Catholic-inspired organization International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), 7,087 Christians were massacred in the first 220 days of 2025—an average of 32 every day. Since 2009, when Boko Haram began its campaign to create an Islamic caliphate across the Sahel, approximately 185,000 people have been killed, including 125,000 Christians and 60,000 moderate Muslims.
The group reports that 19,100 churches have been destroyed, more than 1,100 Christian communities have been displaced, and over 600 Christian clerics have been abducted. Among them are at least 250 Catholic priests and 350 pastors from other denominations. Intersociety warns that “if the trend continues, Christianity could be wiped out from Nigeria by 2075.”
This wave of terror has been carried out primarily by jihadist groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and armed Fulani herdsmen, who have targeted churches and villages in what human rights advocates describe as a coordinated campaign of ethnic and religious cleansing.
Clergy Targeted in Cold Blood
The violence is deeply personal for Nigeria’s Catholic Church. On September 19, 2025, Father Mathew Eya was ambushed and murdered while returning to his parish, St. Charles in Eha-Ndiagu, Enugu State. According to witnesses, two armed men on motorcycles shot out the tires of his car and then killed him at close range. Police have arrested 38 suspects, though human rights leaders question whether the true killers will ever be held accountable.
Emeka Umeagbalasi, director of Intersociety, called the killing “another reminder that Jihadist Fulani herdsmen have been running amok in Enugu.” He expressed concern that police were arresting “a lot of innocent people,” diverting attention from the masterminds who “will go and plan their next attack.”
Another priest, Father Wilfred Ezeamba, was kidnapped days earlier in Kogi State and held for ransom before being released. His abduction was one of at least 15 priest kidnappings reported between January and September. “Kidnappings in Nigeria have become a criminal industrial complex,” said Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto, describing how the business generates millions of dollars in ransom payments each year.
A Campaign to Erase Christianity
Umeagbalasi believes the violence is not random but part of a larger genocidal plan. “These jihadist groups are using violence and genocidal means to obliterate Nigeria’s indigenous ethnic groups and their identities,” he said. He estimates that 22 jihadist organizations are now operating across Nigeria, seeking to “eliminate an estimated 112 million Christians and 13 million adherents of traditional religions.”
The report draws historical parallels to the 19th-century Fulani jihad that created the Sokoto Caliphate. Today, the Sultan of Sokoto remains Nigeria’s highest-ranking Islamic authority, and many Christians fear a new campaign of religious domination.
Intersociety also accuses the Nigerian military and police of complicity in some attacks. It cites reports that special units have been involved in kidnappings, extrajudicial killings, and disappearances of Christian leaders under the guise of counterinsurgency operations. Franc Utoo, a native of Yelewata and former government aide, said that “ending Fulani terrorism is within the military’s power, but there’s no political will. Elements within the military and political leadership—predominantly Fulani—see this violence as a tool to expand Islam’s reach and carve out a Fulani homeland spanning West Africa.”
The Church’s Anguish and Pleas for Help
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria reports that at least 145 priests have been kidnapped and 11 murdered since 2015. But the true toll may be far higher. Father Moses Aondover, Director of Communications in Makurdi, said the constant bloodshed has left Christian communities shattered. “Every single attack changes the demographics of Christians,” he said. “These are wasted human lives, not mere statistics.”
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja lamented that “Boko Haram insurgents, herdsmen militia, bandits, and unknown gunmen have continued to unleash terror in different parts of the country.” Despite countless appeals, “help is simply not coming,” said Father Aondover. “Those who can defend themselves should no longer look without. If you see your neighbor’s house on fire, you should quickly pour water on your own roof.”
A Return to Trump-Era Policy
Trump’s announcement restores the CPC designation that was first applied to Nigeria in December 2020 by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who cited “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.” The Biden administration removed Nigeria from the list in 2021, citing “progress” in government efforts against jihadists. Human rights groups condemned the decision. Open Doors called it “a devastating blow,” pointing out that killings had surged in the years that followed.
Senator Ted Cruz has since introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 to sanction Nigerian officials who promote or tolerate the persecution. “Nigerian Christians are being targeted and executed for their faith by Islamist terrorist groups,” Cruz said. “It is long past time to impose real costs on the Nigerian officials who facilitate these activities.”
Global Reaction and the Path Ahead
Trump’s decision has reignited calls for the United Nations and other international bodies to take stronger action. The UN has acknowledged the crisis but has stopped short of labeling it genocide. Meanwhile, organizations like Open Doors and Intersociety argue that global silence has emboldened the killers.
“For too long, the world has ignored the horrific slaughter of Christians,” said Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland. “Protection is non-negotiable.”
Human rights advocates say Trump’s action sends a clear signal that America will not tolerate religious persecution. Analysts believe the move could lead to sanctions, restrictions on security cooperation, and conditioning of U.S. aid on measurable progress in protecting Christians.
Trump concluded his remarks with a warning that resonated with believers across the world: “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.”
As the killings mount and churches continue to burn, Nigeria’s Christian leaders see in Trump’s declaration not only political pressure, but a sign of hope that the world might finally take notice of their suffering.
NP Editor: This situation is horrific. In addition to thousands killed, even more have been taken as slaves or executed in the cruelest ways.
Africa has never been the highest priority for the U.S. government, and this situation has been growing and becoming more blatant year by year. The fact that Trump took notice is unusual. Can he solve anything? Who knows…
