United States President, Donald Trump, has renewed his criticism of Nigeria’s handling of attacks on Christian communities, expressing deep anger over what he described as an ongoing “genocide.”
Speaking on a conservative radio programme on Friday, in remarks later highlighted by Fox News, Trump said thousands of Christians have been killed in Nigeria and accused the Nigerian government of failing in its responsibility to protect vulnerable populations.
Trump, who previously designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious-freedom violations, reiterated that Washington may take strong action if the situation does not improve.
According to him, the U.S. could cut all aid to Nigeria and consider further steps, including military measures, to counter persistent attacks blamed on Islamic extremist groups.
“Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace,” Trump said during the programme.
“They’re killing people by the thousands. It’s a genocide, and I’m really angry about it. And we give a lot of subsidies to Nigeria. We’re going to end up stopping.”
Trump also faulted what he sees as the Nigerian government’s unwillingness to confront militant groups responsible for deadly assaults on rural Christian communities, insisting the U.S. would not stand by while such killings continue.
His comments mark a significant escalation in Washington’s rhetoric and come amid renewed international scrutiny of insecurity across Nigeria. Reports from global rights groups and faith-based organisations have repeatedly warned of worsening violence in several northern and central states, with thousands displaced and communities destroyed.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims of a religious genocide, insisting that the violence is driven by multiple factors — including banditry, terrorism, and communal clashes — rather than targeted persecution of any faith group.
Trump’s remarks, however, signal that the issue is likely to remain a major point of diplomatic tension between Washington and Abuja in the coming months.
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