US designates Nigeria as ‘country of particular concern’ Trump says ‘thousands of Chrians are being killed’ | World News
Chrians make up around half of Nigeria’s population. (Photo: Reuters)
The United States on Friday designated the African nation of Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’ over alleged killings of Chrians there. US President Donald Trump, who made the announcement on Truth Social, said, “Chrianity is facing an exential threat in Nigeria.”
country of particular concern
According to the US State Department, ‘country of particular concern’ is a designation given to countries that have engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom. The designation is granted under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and applies to countries with “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom”.
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‘Thousands of Chrians being killed’
“Thousands of Chrians are being killed. Radical Islams are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am here making Nigeria a “COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN,” Trump said.
“The United States cannot stand while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Chrian population around the World,” Trump said further.
Attacks on Chrians in Nigeria
Chrians and Muslims comprise the two dominant religious groups in Nigeria, with both groups making up about 46% of the population.
A Chrian priest conducts a mass service for community members in Obollo-Afor, Enugu Nigeria. (Photo: REUTERS)
While sectarian and ethnic violence are not new in Nigeria, in recent years, the Chrian community there has come under increasing attacks terror groups, including Boko Haram.
One of the deadliest attacks on Chrians in Nigeria happened in June 2022, when Islamic State – West Africa Province (ISWAP) gunmen stormed a church in Ondo State, killing at least 40 people.
A view of St. Francis Catholic Church where worshippers were attacked gunmen during Sunday mass, is pictured in Owo, Ondo, Nigeria June 6, 2022. (Photo: REUTERS)
In June this year, around 200 Chrians were massacred over two days in the village of Yelwata in Benue State of Nigeria.
