FG Criticises ‘Country of Particular Concern’ Designation by US Over Alleged Christian Genocide

The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially rejected the designation of the country as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) by President Donald Trump, citing the claim of widespread Christian killings as inaccurate and misleading.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, issued a statement on Saturday asserting that the allegations do not reflect the true security situation in Nigeria.

President Donald Trump had publicly declared the CPC designation, stating, “Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.” He cited figures showing 3,100 Christian killings in Nigeria compared to 4,476 worldwide, insisting that “something must be done.”

While acknowledging the global interest in human rights and religious freedom, the Nigerian government stressed that reports of widespread persecution are exaggerated.

The Ministry argued that the claims fail to capture the complexity of the nation’s security challenges, attributing the reported attacks to violent extremist groups and criminal elements that exploit ethnic and religious fault lines across the West African and Sahel regions.

Under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the government reaffirmed its commitment to:

* Combating terrorism.

* Promoting interfaith harmony.

* Protecting the lives and rights of all citizens, regardless of faith.

Despite the designation, the Ministry reiterated Nigeria’s strong bilateral ties with the United States, emphasizing continued cooperation on security, governance, and development issues.

The government vowed to “engage constructively” with the U.S. to deepen mutual understanding of regional dynamics and Nigeria’s ongoing peace initiatives.

The statement concluded by reaffirming Nigeria as a “God-fearing nation built on faith, tolerance, diversity, and inclusion.”

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reacted to Trump’s remarks by stating Washington would “leave no stone unturned” in responding to what he termed a rising tide of Christian killings in Nigeria. Posting on X, Rubio condemned the “wanton destruction of lives and property by radical Islamists and Fulani ethnic militias,” assuring that the Trump-led administration “stands ready and willing to act” to address the situation.