TRUMP PLACED NIGERIA ON WATCHLIST AFTER FOX NEWS SEGMENT ON CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION

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United States President Donald Trump had reportedly placed Nigeria on a religious freedom watchlist after watching a Fox News segment alleging widespread persecution of Christians in the country, according to a CNN report.

Trump’s decision, announced on Friday via his Truth Social account, redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” — a classification reserved for nations accused of engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom.

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed,” Trump wrote, warning that the U.S. could consider sanctions or military action if the Nigerian government fails to address the alleged attacks.

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CNN and other U.S. media outlets reported that the move was made shortly after Trump viewed a Fox News segment detailing alleged killings of Christians by extremist groups in northern Nigeria.

The development has sparked widespread reactions across diplomatic and religious circles, with observers questioning the credibility of Trump’s sources and the suddenness of his decision.

In response, the Nigerian government dismissed the allegations of targeted Christian persecution as “false and misleading,” insisting that insecurity in the country is driven by terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts that affect both Christians and Muslims.

“There are no Christians being persecuted in Nigeria. What we are facing is insecurity, particularly terrorism, which affects everyone,” Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede said earlier this week in Abuja.

The Tinubu administration also reaffirmed its commitment to religious freedom and national unity, stressing that Nigeria remains a secular state where citizens of all faiths are protected under the constitution.

Security analysts have cautioned that the U.S. designation could strain diplomatic relations and complicate military cooperation between both countries, particularly in counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing.

They also note that while religiously motivated violence exists in parts of the country, data show that both Christians and Muslims have suffered casualties in equal measure due to insurgency and communal clashes.

The United States has yet to clarify whether Trump’s redesignation will lead to sanctions or if the decision was primarily symbolic.