FG dismisses Trump’s ‘country of concern’ designation over killing of Christians in Nigeria.

By Attah Ede 

The Federal Government of Nigeria, on Saturday rejected US President Donald Trump’s decision to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” dismissing his claims of widespread persecution of Christians as inaccurate, misleading and unacceptable.

In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump alleged that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria, stressing that thousands of Christians are being killed,” blaming radical Islamists for what he described as “mass slaughter.”

Reacting to this outburst in a statement on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the allegations do not reflect the true situation in Nigeria.

The spokesperson of the  Ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, stated that Nigerians of all religious backgrounds have historically lived, worked, and worshipped together in peace.

He maintained that despite that the Nigerian government welcomes international concern for human rights and religious freedom, the claims are “misleading and contrary to the government’s sustained efforts to promote peace and unity.”

“Nigeria remains committed to fighting terrorism, strengthening interfaith harmony, and protecting the lives and rights of all its people under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Ebienfa stated.

He further said that Nigeria would continue engaging with Washington to foster better understanding of the country’s security realities and regional dynamics.

In recent months, international interest in Nigeria’s religious tensions has grown. Earlier in September, US Senator Ted Cruz proposed a bill aimed at protecting “persecuted” Christians in the country.

President Bola Tinubu, on September 30, dismissed such accusations as baseless, asserting that Nigeria’s strength lies in the “faith and resilience of its people.”

Meanwhile, on October 14, the Nigerian Senate established a 12-member ad hoc committee to draft a comprehensive response to international concerns over alleged state-backed persecution of Christians