On Friday, President Donald Trump did something Christians around the world have been urging him to do since he took office.  

In a message on social media, Trump acknowledged the atrocities that Christians in Nigeria face daily, saying that “Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a “COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN.” 

A Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation could significantly improve the lives of many Christians in Nigeria by raising awareness of the ongoing persecution and exerting pressure on the Nigerian government to take action. The U.S. State Department under President Joe Biden lifted Nigeria’s CPC designation in 2021 for unknown reasons.  

International Christian Concern President Shawn Wright welcomed the news of the CPC designation for Nigeria.  

“We are deeply grateful for this important recognition,” Wright said. “It represents a significant step toward mobilizing the global community to confront the atrocities that have devastated so many families and communities in Nigeria. Our prayer is that this designation will encourage other world leaders to follow suit and that it will lead to tangible actions that bring relief and lasting change for those suffering at the hands of violent extremists.” 

The decision marks a significant policy signal, renewing international attention on the worsening human rights and religious freedom crisis in Nigeria — where extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani militants have continued to carry out devastating attacks on Christian communities, often with impunity. 

Trump shared the staggering figures of reported massacres, noting that more than 3,100 Nigerian Christians have been killed in comparison to 4,476 Christians killed worldwide, underscoring Nigeria as the global epicenter of faith-based violence. 

The president added that he’s asking Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, to “immediately look into” the ongoing slaughter of Christians in Nigeria.  

“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries,” Trump wrote. 

Christians in Nigeria have faced ongoing attacks with minimal support from the international community, prompting members of the U.S. Congress to appeal to the president to take action in recent weeks. 

Many have characterized the violence against Christians in Nigeria as “Christian genocide,” as violent incidents have occurred within churches and Christian communities in the central and northern regions of the country. 

Security conditions in Nigeria have deteriorated in recent years, particularly in the north, which is predominantly Muslim. Since Bola Tinubu took office as president in 2023, more than 10,000 people have been killed, hundreds have been abducted, and more than 3 million people have been displaced from their homes. 

In the first seven months of 2025 alone, more than 7,000 Christians have been killed, an average of 35 deaths per day. The atrocities led Moore to formally request that Secretary of State Marco Rubio designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) on Oct. 5. 

“Christians are being persecuted and killed in Nigeria for professing their faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” Rep. Moore posted on X. “The killings must stop. That’s why I’m urging @SecRubio to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. We must use every diplomatic tool to end this horrific slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Christ.” 

In a recent interview, Moore described Nigeria as the most dangerous place in the world for Christians, noting that 82% of persecuted Christians killed between October 2022 and September 2023 died in Nigeria. Many Americans and people worldwide remain unaware of the ongoing violence in the country. 

“The United States cannot stand idly by while believers are slaughtered,” Moore stated. “We must acknowledge the religious nature of this scourge of anti-Christian violence from radical Islamic terrorists. It’s time for the United States to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ, and designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern will provide the diplomatic tools necessary to do just that. I urge Secretary Rubio to designate Nigeria as a CPC without delay.” 

The recent violence also prompted Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to introduce legislation aimed at holding Nigerian officials accountable for facilitating Islamic jihadist attacks on Christians. Public figures in the media, including Bill Maher, have also called for greater awareness of this persecution and challenged the media to highlight the issue. 

This article originally appeared at persecution.org and has been reprinted with permission. 

Founded in 1995, International Christian Concern (ICC) is a Christian organization. It’s an ecumenical, non-governmental, and non-partisan group focused on protecting the human rights of Christians and religious minorities.