Award-winning rapper Nicki Minaj has publicly backed U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria, a position strongly disputed by the Nigerian government and several security analysts.
Speaking on Tuesday at a U.S.-organised event, Minaj said Christians in Nigeria were being targeted, adding that “churches have been burned, families have been torn apart… simply because of how they pray.” She explained that her comments were not meant to inflame divisions but to advocate for unity, stressing that “this is about standing up in the face of injustice.”
Her remarks follow Trump’s recent threat to send American troops into Nigeria “guns a-blazing” if the government “continues to allow the killing of Christians.” However, analysts say there is no evidence that Christians are being specifically targeted in Nigeria. They point out that jihadist groups and armed gangs frequently attack communities regardless of religion, and that most victims of extremist violence in the north are Muslims.
The Nigerian government has also rejected Trump’s claims, describing them as “a gross misrepresentation of reality,” while acknowledging that the country continues to face deadly attacks by militants and bandits. Officials insist that terrorists “attack all who reject their murderous ideology, Muslims, Christians, and those of no faith alike.”
Minaj, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, thanked Trump for highlighting the issue and praised Nigeria as “a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions.” She also acknowledged her Nigerian fan base, the “beautiful Barbz.” Standing alongside U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, she said using her platform to speak out was part of a larger purpose she believes she shares with her fans. Waltz commended the rapper for drawing attention to what he described as “atrocities against Christians.”
Her comments came as police in Kwara State confirmed a deadly attack on a church in the town of Eruku, where gunmen opened fire during an evening service on Tuesday, killing two worshipers and kidnapping several others. Local media reported that the attackers, identified by residents as bandits, shot the pastor and herded worshipers at gunpoint. CCTV footage circulating online shows terrified congregants scrambling to escape.
Experts warn that many acts of violence in Nigeria are often tied to disputes over land, water, and resources, or rooted in long-standing ethnic tensions, rather than motivated solely by religion. They also note that some of the data used by right-wing groups in Washington to support claims of Christian persecution are difficult to verify. Nigeria’s population of more than 220 million is almost evenly split between Christians and Muslims.
Minaj’s appearance at the UN marks her most high-profile political intervention to date. The 42-year-old rapper, who recently disclosed that she still does not have U.S. citizenship despite living there since childhood, has previously attracted global controversy for sharing unverified claims about Covid-19 vaccines. She has also remained in the spotlight due to a long-running feud with fellow rapper Cardi B.
