Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Fight Extremism After Trump Adds It to Watch List
In a statement on Saturday, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government “will continue to protect all citizens regardless of faith or ethnicity,” and called on Washington to remain a partner in promoting tolerance and diversity.
Trump announced on Friday that Nigeria would be added to the U.S. State Department’s “Countries of Particular Concern” list, citing alleged threats to Christians. The same list includes nations such as China, Russia, Myanmar, and North Korea.
While Trump claimed that Christianity in Nigeria faces an “existential threat,” authorities in Abuja emphasized that the country’s diversity — with over 200 ethnic groups and followers of Christianity, Islam, and traditional beliefs — remains its greatest strength.
Nigeria continues to battle extremist groups like Boko Haram, whose insurgency in the northeast has killed tens of thousands over the past 15 years.