The United States has officially blamed “Fulani ethnic militias” for what it describes as an ongoing “genocide against Christians” in Nigeria, following President Donald Trump’s decision to designate the country as a “Country of Particular Concern.” The move, announced on Trump’s Truth Social platform, signals Washington’s readiness to intervene, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“The ongoing slaughter of thousands of Christians in Nigeria by radical Islamists and Fulani ethnic militias is both tragic and unacceptable,” Rubio said. “As @POTUS said, the United States stands ready, willing, and able to act.” Trump himself emphasized that Christianity in Nigeria is under an “existential threat,” directing Representatives Riley Moore and Tom Cole, along with the House Appropriations Committee, to investigate and report back to him.
The U.S. statement has sparked tensions with the Nigerian government. President Bola Tinubu strongly denied claims of religious intolerance in Nigeria, insisting that the country remains a constitutional democracy that protects freedom of religion for all citizens.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu said in a statement. “Our administration has maintained open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike while addressing security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions.”
Tinubu dismissed U.S. claims as a mischaracterization of Nigeria’s complex religious landscape. He stressed that the government neither supports nor condones persecution based on faith, and that religious tolerance is central to Nigeria’s national identity.
“The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” he said. “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 President reiterated that Nigeria will continue to work with international partners, including the United States, to promote understanding and safeguard communities of all faiths.
The move by the U.S., coming amid heightened political attention to global Christian communities, marks a significant escalation in diplomatic pressure on Nigeria. While Washington frames its designation as a moral imperative, Nigerian officials argue that such unilateral judgments risk oversimplifying the country’s multifaceted security challenges, which affect both Christian and Muslim populations.
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