On October 31, Donald Trump declared on social media that Christians in Nigeria were facing genocide and suggested that the US could intervene militarily to protect them. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu rejected these accusations, emphasizing the nation’s sovereignty and his commitment to protecting all citizens regardless of faith.
Meanwhile, US activists and politicians, including Senator Ted Cruz, highlight severe attacks on Christian communities and propose sanctions against Nigeria. Research by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa documents thousands of Christian and Muslim victims. Violence has escalated in recent years, especially since Tinubu became president in 2023.
Northern and central Nigeria have seen armed groups perpetrating brutal attacks, over 19,000 churches destroyed, thousands killed, and millions displaced. Christian groups claim the government responds slowly and often fails to prosecute attackers, while some ex-fighters receive amnesty through government programs.
The roots of violence include not only religion but also land disputes, poverty, weak governance, Boko Haram terrorism, and ethnic conflicts. Locals stress that all communities suffer, with Christians often bearing greater losses.
The issue of genocide is controversial: there is no clear evidence of a coordinated state policy, but human rights defenders urge global attention to widespread persecution and the deteriorating security situation.
