American rapper Nicki Minaj has publicly supported President Donald Trump’s assertions that Christians are facing persecution in Nigeria, sparking renewed international attention on religious freedom in the country.
Speaking at a United Nations event organised by the US on Tuesday, Minaj highlighted the importance of protecting faith worldwide. “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,” she said.
The event, hosted by US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, focused on safeguarding religious liberty and addressing rising concerns over violence targeting Christian communities.
“In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes, and killed. Churches have been burned. Families have been torn apart. And entire communities live in fear constantly, simply because of how they pray,” Minaj added.
The Nigerian government has strongly rejected these claims, describing them as “a gross misrepresentation of reality.” Analysts note that while Islamist extremist groups and other armed factions have committed acts of violence in Nigeria, these attacks affect all communities, with data indicating that many victims of Islamist militancy are Muslim.
Minaj’s intervention comes amid ongoing international debates over the state of religious freedom in Nigeria and the wider region, underscoring the challenges of protecting faith amid complex security and political dynamics.
