Trump Warns of ‘Existential Threat’ to Christianity in Nigeria

President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning regarding the plight of Christians in Nigeria, characterizing the situation as an “existential threat.” In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, he accused radical Islamists of committing mass violence against Christians throughout the country. This declaration comes as he designates Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” due to a disturbing increase in religious violence.

Trump’s announcement highlighted the severity of the crisis, as he stated, “Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.” He has instructed Congressman Riley Moore and others on the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the ongoing violence and report back to him. “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries,” Trump emphasized, adding that the nation is prepared to assist the global Christian community.

Escalating Violence Against Christians

The situation for Christians in Nigeria has significantly deteriorated. Reports indicate that Islamist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), along with Fulani militant herders, have increased their attacks on Christian communities, particularly in the northern and central regions of the country. According to Fox News, villages have been burned, churches destroyed, and worshipers have been killed during services, contributing to a humanitarian crisis.

In one recent incident, militants attacked a bishop’s village shortly after he testified before Congress, resulting in the deaths of over 20 individuals. In the states of Plateau and Benue, several similar assaults have taken hundreds of lives this year, with eyewitnesses reporting gunmen chanting “Allahu Akbar” as they committed these acts of violence. Data from the watchdog group Open Doors reveals that approximately 70% of all Christians killed for their faith globally last year were in Nigeria.

Human rights organizations estimate that between 4,000 and 8,000 Christians are murdered annually in Nigeria, with countless others kidnapped or forced to flee their homes.

International Responses and Ongoing Concerns

Mark Walker, President Trump’s ambassador-designate for International Religious Freedom, has called for the United States to pressure the Nigerian government to take decisive action. He remarked, “Even being conservative, it’s probably 4,000 to 8,000 Christians killed annually.” Walker emphasized that the issue transcends politics, focusing instead on the sanctity of human life, particularly the plight of women and children facing abduction and violence.

Both the White House and Pope Leo XIV have condemned the violence in Nigeria, warning that it poses a threat to regional stability. In contrast, Nigerian officials have rejected claims of systematic targeting of Christians, labeling such reports as misleading. Senator Ted Cruz has countered this narrative, asserting that over 50,000 Christians have been killed since 2009, with more than 20,000 churches destroyed, describing the situation as a “crisis of religious genocide.”

Despite the growing international concern and calls for accountability, attacks continue unabated across Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Survivors and clergy members are urging for immediate action to address this escalating crisis. As a priest from Plateau State poignantly stated, “When the world stays silent, the killers return.”

The situation in Nigeria demands urgent attention and action from the international community as the violence against Christians shows no signs of abating.