Trump puts spotlight on Nigeria where Islamists reportedly killed thousands of Christians this year

President Trump on Friday declared Nigeria a country of particular concern, citing the “existential threat” Christianity is facing in the African country.

“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” he wrote on social media. I am hereby making Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern. But that is the least of it,” he wrote in all caps.

During his first term, Mr Trump designated Nigeria as a CPC, a designation reversed under President Biden.

Mr. Trump said, “When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done!”

He called upon Rep. Riley Moore, West Virginia Republican, and Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, Oklahoma Republican, to “immediately look into this matter, and report back to me.”

Mr. Moore has championed the Christians facing persecution in Nigeria.

Mr Trump 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!”

Mr. Moore sent a letter in early October to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to restore that designation and suspend all U.S. arms sales and technical support to Nigeria until the government takes swift action to protect the persecuted.

Mr. Moore detailed that over 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in 2025 alone — an average of 35 per day — with hundreds more kidnapped, tortured, or displaced by extremist groups such as Boko Haram.

He also pointed to reports indicating that 19,100 Christian churches have been attacked or destroyed since 2009 and that elements of the Nigerian government may be complicit in the violence.

Other reports indicated that more Christians are killed every year in Nigeria than the rest of the world combined.

“Nigeria has become the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian. Just this year, a priest was kidnapped and murdered on Ash Wednesday and 54 Christians were martyred on Palm Sunday. 7,000 Christians have been martyred this year alone,” Mr. Moore said. “More than 50,000 Christians have been murdered since 2009.”