International rap star Nicki Minaj has lent her voice to former US President Donald Trump’s disputed assertions that Christians are being specifically targeted in Nigeria.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Speaking on Tuesday at an event organised by the US mission to the United Nations in New York, Minaj said: “In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted… Churches have been burned, families have been torn apart, simply because of how they pray.”
Her comments echo Trump’s earlier statement this month, in which he threatened to send US troops into Nigeria “guns a-blazing” if the government “continues to allow the killing of Christians”. Nigerian authorities sharply rejected that claim, calling it “a gross misrepresentation of reality.” An official said extremists attack “all who reject their murderous ideology, Muslims, Christians, and those of no faith alike.”
Complex Reality of Violence in Nigeria
Security analysts say Nigeria’s violence is driven by a mix of jihadist insurgency, criminal banditry, and communal disputes, affecting people of all religions. Organisations monitoring political violence report that Muslims constitute the majority of victims of jihadist groups, particularly in the country’s northern region.
Nigeria, with a population of over 220 million, is nearly evenly split between Christians and Muslims. Most jihadist attacks occur in the predominantly Muslim north, where extremist groups have operated for over a decade.
Armed groups stormed this school in Kebbi state and abducted more than 20 girls, who are believed to be Muslim
While allegations of systematic anti-Christian persecution have circulated for months in US conservative circles, a BBC investigation found that some of the data used to support those claims is difficult to verify. Experts also note that many deadly clashes stem from struggles over land, water, and ethnic tensions rather than religious differences.
Fresh Attacks Heighten Public Anger
Minaj’s remarks came amid renewed violence in parts of Nigeria.
Police in Kwara State confirmed a deadly Tuesday attack on the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, where gunmen opened fire on worshippers, killing two people and abducting several others. CCTV footage circulating online shows congregants scrambling for safety.
In Kebbi State, 25 Muslim schoolgirls were abducted this week, with two later escaping. A teacher and a security guard, both Muslim, were killed during the attack.
In another development, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) announced it had killed Brigadier General Musa Uba after an ambush in Borno State, a claim the Nigerian army initially denied before President Bola Tinubu confirmed the officer’s death.
The spike in violence has fuelled frustration nationwide. President Tinubu said he was “fully apprised of the recent uptick in violent extremism”, noting that the surge had left him “depressed.” He ordered security agencies to act with “urgency, clarity, and decisive action” and postponed his scheduled trip to the G20 Summit in South Africa.
Minaj’s Political Foray Draws Reactions
Minaj, 42, born in Trinidad and raised in the US, described Nigeria as “a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions” and acknowledged her large Nigerian fan base, the “Barbz”. She thanked Trump for prioritising what she called a humanitarian issue, framing her remarks as a stand “against injustice”.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz praised the rapper for using her platform to highlight the issue.
This marks Minaj’s most prominent political intervention to date. She previously made headlines for sharing false claims about the Covid-19 vaccine during the pandemic, remarks that drew responses from UK officials, including then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Her comments also come amid her ongoing, highly publicised feud with fellow rapper Cardi B.