A Nigerian pastor and other Christian individuals have expressed approval of the President’s efforts to press the Abuja government to halt the persecution of Christians. The President recently identified Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, indicating a potential cessation of aid and the implementation of financial and other penalties against government figures.
However, Christians interviewed by Digital, despite appreciating the President’s backing, have stated their opposition to the deployment of U.S. Troops to Nigeria to address the widespread killings of their fellow believers in the Middle Belt, one of the most severely impacted regions of the West African country.
Requesting to be identified solely by his first name due to concerns about retaliation, Pastor Fred conveyed to Digital from Plateau State, “Over the past two decades, we have endeavored to sound an alarm as the populace’s voices have been suppressed. It is hoped that this action will prompt the Nigerian government and those in positions of authority and influence to initiate change, given the ongoing loss of life.”
While Secretary of War Pete Hegseth previously issued a warning this month, stating, “The Department of War is readying for intervention. The Nigerian government must either safeguard Christians, or we will neutralize the Islamic terrorists responsible for these terrible acts,” Pastor Fred, whose place of worship has endured multiple assaults by Islamic extremists, maintains a strong stance against any foreign military involvement.
“As a Nigerian, I find the prospect of soldiers entering the country quite unsettling. While I am highly uncomfortable with it, I am even more distressed by the reality that people are being massacred with minimal governmental intervention.”
A prominent bishop in Nigeria’s Plateau State, who chose to remain anonymous for security reasons, conveyed his satisfaction to Digital regarding the president’s remarks, stating, “I feel immense delight. I am extremely pleased. This is a truly positive development.”
Last month, President Trump communicated via Truth Social that three out of every four global Christian fatalities in the preceding year, accounting for 3,100 of the 4,476 deaths worldwide, took place in Nigeria. These figures align precisely with those published by Open Doors in their World Watchlist 2025. Open Doors operates as a global Christian charitable organization dedicated to assisting Christians suffering persecution for their beliefs.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reports that approximately 46% of Nigeria’s populace identifies as Christian, with numerous accounts suggesting that in Plateau State, where the bishop resides, Christians comprise 90% of the population. Nevertheless, radicalized Muslim Fulani nomadic tribesmen have launched successive assaults on Christians in the area, frequently engaging in the decapitation of children and the appropriation of their land.
The bishop remarked, “Our predicament is that individuals arrive to commit murders without any opposition. They perpetrate killings with impunity. When security (Nigerian authorities) are contacted, they arrive belatedly – subsequent to fatalities and the destruction of homes by fire.”
Recalling a characteristic incident in December 2023, the bishop stated, “They [Fulani militants] murdered 17 individuals. We believed the ordeal was concluded. While we were conducting the burial, they assaulted over 25 villages within Plateau State, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 people, among them children.”
The Bishop expressed gratitude that “the Christians present here perceive this development as appropriate. Someone [in Washington] is monitoring, observing, and acknowledging the events unfolding in Nigeria, and we are confident this will exert pressure on the government. Our aim is to ensure that the security forces commence fulfilling their duties.”
Digital holds documented instances where, during assaults on Nigerian Christians, Fulani militants have been heard exclaiming, “Death to all Christians.” A Nigerian lawyer consulted by Digital this week described the circumstances as unfathomably difficult, remarking that “President Trump’s statements are heartening to me and to many Nigerians, particularly those from the Middle Belt, an area where thousands have been slain, injured, pregnant women disemboweled, their agricultural lands ruined, and their ancestral territories appropriated by ruthless Fulani militants.”
The lawyer conveyed to Digital, “President Trump’s intervention is opportune, and it ought to be executed swiftly, prior to the Nigerian government potentially aligning with Russia or China.” The lawyer opted for anonymity, citing fears for his personal safety.
“The Nigerian government has exhibited scant concern regarding the predicament of these individuals,” the lawyer further remarked. He expressed a desire “that the U.S. will engage in diverse actions to emancipate the minority Christian population from the domination of the Fulani militants.”
Nigeria’s minister of information and national orientation informed Digital that “The federal government of Nigeria has acknowledged the recent comments made by U.S. President Donald J. Trump concerning the status of religious freedom and security within Nigeria. While we value any expression of apprehension for the welfare of Nigerians, we wish to state unequivocally that Nigeria maintains its steadfast dedication to safeguarding the rights, security, and liberty of worship for all its populace – encompassing Christians, Muslims, and adherents of other beliefs.”
The minister proceeded, “Nigeria is a nation where communities adhering to various faiths have peacefully coexisted for many centuries. The government remains resolute in confronting violent extremism in all its manifestations, irrespective of whether it stems from ideological, criminal, or ethnic motives, and collaborates closely with both regional and international allies to uphold peace and stability throughout our frontiers. Any external involvement concerning this matter must be founded on verifiable facts, mutual esteem, and collaborative effort, rather than on subjective impressions or inaccurate information.”