Nicki Minaj publicly thanked President Donald Trump following his declaration that Nigeria would face severe consequences if it continues to allow widespread killings of Christians by extremist groups.
“Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God,” Minaj wrote in response to the president’s Truth Social post.
“No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion. Numerous countries all around the world are being affected by this horror & it’s dangerous to pretend we don’t notice.”
“Thank you to The President & his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian,” she concluded. “Let’s remember to lift them up in prayer.”
Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God.
No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion. We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other.
Numerous countries all… pic.twitter.com/2M5sPiviQu
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) November 1, 2025
Her reaction followed the president’s announcement on Friday that Nigeria had been designated a “Country of Particular Concern” due to ongoing violence targeting Christians by what he described as “radical Islamist” groups.
The designation, issued under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, identifies nations engaged in severe violations of religious liberty.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” Trump said. “Thousands of Christians are being killed. 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. When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done!” he continued.
“I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter, and report back to me.”
The president added that, “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!”
Moore responded to the president’s announcement, saying on X, “You have always been a champion for Christians around the world, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with you and Chairman Cole @houseappropsgop to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being slaughtered by radical Islamists in Nigeria.”
Violence across Nigeria has escalated in recent years, marked by jihadist insurgencies, ethnic rivalries, and clashes over land and resources.
Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have led much of the violence in the northeast since 2009, while separate attacks by Fulani tribesmen have devastated Christian farming communities across central regions.
On Friday evening, local reports from Kaduna State described a deadly attack on the Damakasuwa community in Chawai Chiefdom.
According to Punch Nigeria, the attackers invaded around 8 p.m., opening fire and forcing residents to flee into nearby foliage. Seven people were killed and one more injured.
The chief of Chawai, Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad, told reporters that five of the victims died at the scene and two later succumbed to their injuries.
“The incident heightened tension in the area, but normalcy has since been restored due to the presence of military personnel in the community,” he commented.
“We have urged our people to remain calm and allow the security agencies to carry out their duties diligently to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended.”
Additional violence occurred in Plateau State, where ten people were reportedly killed in separate incidents.
Seven victims were found in the Kwi community, and three more were reported dead in the Pushit community. Local leader Rwang Tengwon told Punch that the attacks were carried out by “suspected Fulani militia.”
Following these reports, President Trump escalated his stance, warning that the U.S. could consider military action if the Nigerian government failed to stop the killings.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday evening.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”
In response, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu released a statement defending his country’s record on religious tolerance.
“The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” Tinubu said.
Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.
Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect… pic.twitter.com/mRb9IqKMFm
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) November 1, 2025
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”
The U.S. State Department confirmed Monday that it had formally updated its designation, officially listing Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
Other countries on the list include Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.