President Donald Trump has officially designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) — a long-awaited move that could bring global attention and diplomatic pressure to one of the deadliest regions for Christians in the world. In his announcement, Trump condemned the “mass slaughter” of believers by radical Islamist groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani militants, calling the violence a “Christian genocide.” The decision reverses President Biden’s 2021 removal of Nigeria from the CPC list and marks a major step toward addressing religious persecution in Africa’s most populous nation. Trump emphasized that more than 3,100 Christians have been killed in Nigeria this year alone — the vast majority of global Christian deaths — and called on Congress to investigate the ongoing crisis.

Christian advocacy groups and lawmakers applauded the move. International Christian Concern President Shawn Wright called it “a significant step toward mobilizing the global community to confront the atrocities.” Lawmakers like Rep. Riley Moore and Sen. Ted Cruz have urged the administration to follow through with diplomatic and financial measures against Nigerian officials who enable jihadist violence. Since 2023, over 10,000 people have been killed under President Bola Tinubu’s government, with attacks targeting churches, pastors, and entire Christian villages. The new designation signals a renewed U.S. commitment to defending persecuted believers and could reshape America’s human rights policy abroad.

SOURCE: ICC