At a United Nations forum on global religious freedom, held Tuesday evening, the United States Ambassador to the UN, Michael Waltz, and American music star Nicki Minaj drew international attention to Nigeria’s escalating security crisis — particularly the targeting of Christian communities.
The event, titled “Combatting Religious Violence and the Killing of Christians in Nigeria,” highlighted growing concerns about religiously motivated attacks and the safety of vulnerable groups across the country.
Ambassador Waltz described the situation in stark terms, calling the violence “genocide wearing the mask of chaos.”
“In the Middle Belt and the North, churches burn; mothers bury children for the crime of singing Amazing Grace; pastors are beheaded for preaching; and entire villages wake up to gunfire because they dare to call Jesus their Lord,” Waltz said. He added that people continue to face prosecution under blasphemy laws simply for wearing a cross.
Referencing recent mass kidnappings, he noted, “Just yesterday, 25 little girls were ripped from their school.”
He also cited data from global watchdog Open Doors, stating, “Eighty percent of all violence against Christians worldwide occurs in Nigeria.”
Waltz praised former US President Donald Trump for his consistent stance on the issue, describing Trump as a leader who “refused to look away” and made the persecuted church a priority. He recalled Trump’s unprecedented move in 2019 when he convened world leaders at the UN to address religious persecution and established the Religious Liberty Commission.
“We need voices that pierce the silence of the international community and demand accountability,” Waltz added.
Nicki Minaj, speaking moments later, echoed the ambassador’s concerns, framing the Nigerian crisis as part of a broader global struggle for freedom of belief.
“In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes, and killed,” she said. “Churches are burned, families torn apart, and entire communities live in fear — simply because of how they pray.”
Minaj acknowledged similar crises worldwide and thanked Trump for “calling for urgent action to defend Christians in Nigeria, combat extremism, and end violence against those exercising their natural right to religious freedom.”
She expressed hope that the forum would “deepen solidarity” and inspire global cooperation to protect the fundamental rights of all people.
The event follows Trump’s recent claim that Nigeria is experiencing a “Christian genocide,” alongside his announcement that the country would be designated a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Federal Government continues to reject allegations that the violence is religiously motivated, insisting that insecurity stems from criminality, banditry, and communal conflicts rather than faith-based persecution. Despite this position, concerns from US officials remain persistent.
Credit: Punch
Comment here