International music superstar Nicki Minaj has publicly commended former US President Donald Trump for his administration's focus on the alleged systematic persecution of Christians in Nigeria, delivering her remarks from a podium at the United Nations.
A Surprising Alliance at the United Nations
On Thursday, the renowned rapper took to the global stage at the UN, invited by US Ambassador Mike Waltz, to highlight what she described as a severe religious freedom crisis in the West African nation. Minaj specifically thanked President Trump for his 'leadership' in 'prioritising' the issue, applauding his dedication to advocating for urgent action.
'Music has taken me around the globe. I have seen how people no matter their language, culture or religion, come alive when they hear a song that touches their soul,' Minaj stated during her address. She powerfully added, 'Religious freedom means we all can sing our faith regardless of who we are, where we live and what we believe. But today, faith is under attack in way too many places.'
The Grim Reality on the Ground in Nigeria
Human rights campaigners assert that Islamist militants have been systematically targeting Christian communities for years. The jihadist insurgency led by Boko Haram is estimated to have killed more than 100,000 people since 2009, though these figures are challenging to independently verify.
Emeka Umeagbalasi, founder of Nigeria's International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), issued a dire warning. He claims the country's Christian population, which numbers nearly 109 million, is being pushed to the brink of extinction due to a 'silent, systematic genocide'. Umeagbalasi fears that without immediate international intervention, this community could disappear within two generations.
He described a chilling pattern of attacks where assailants, often striking at night, shoot villagers, burn churches, and destroy property. This has left millions of Nigerian Christians living under the constant threat of violence and slaughter. Minaj drew attention to online videos depicting such extreme violence that their authenticity is often debated.
Political Repercussions and Official Denials
The situation has triggered significant international political repercussions. Earlier this month, President Trump accused the Nigerian government of 'allowing the killing of Christians' and issued stark threats to cut off aid or even deploy the US military 'guns a-blazing' to the region.
Subsequently, the Trump administration added Nigeria to the US list of 'countries of particular concern' for alleged violations of religious freedom, placing it alongside nations like China and Afghanistan.
In response, the Nigerian government has vehemently dismissed these allegations. Information minister Mohammed Idris branded the claims of a Christian genocide as 'false, baseless, despicable and divisive', with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu insisting that Nigeria is not a 'religiously intolerant' nation.
Experts caution that the reality on the ground is complex. While violence is spiralling, with at least 2,266 people killed in the first half of 2025 alone, the victims include both Christians and Muslims. Umeagbalasi's own figures state that roughly 150,000 Christians have been killed over the past 16 years, but also note that 30,000 Muslims have been murdered in the violence.
Concluding her UN address, Minaj made clear her intention was not to sow division. 'I want to be clear, protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity,' she said, vowing to leverage her platform against injustice for the rest of her life.
