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by JESSICA A. BOTELHO | The National News Desk
WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump is being praised after he declared Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) amid the ongoing murder of Christians at the hands of radical Islamist groups.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and other politicians — as well as rapper Nicki Minaj — also applauded the president.
Trump also called on Congressman Riley Moore and Chairman Tom Cole, along with the House Appropriations Committee, "to immediately look into this matter" and report back to him.
The president added that "something must be done" to stop the continued killings.
In September, Cruz introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 in hopes of designating the nation as a CPC.
If approved, the legislation would impose targeted sanctions against Nigerian officials who facilitate violence against Christians and other religious minorities, including by Islamist terrorist groups.
Now, Cruz is thanking Trump for taking action.
“I am deeply gratified to President Trump for making this determination. I have fought for years to counter the slaughter and persecution of Christians in Nigeria, and this year introduced legislation that will lock in the designation made today," Cruz noted in a statement on Friday.
"Today’s designation is a critical step in holding accountable and changing the behavior of Nigerian officials who have facilitated and created an environment conducive to the outrages in Nigeria," he added. "My legislation implements additional steps, including targeting those who implement blasphemy and sharia laws in Nigeria, and I am committed to working with the administration and my colleagues to advance my bill and implement these necessary measures. Today’s decision by President Trump is a great one, and I thank him for his strong leadership.”
Minaj, who is Christian, shared a screenshot of Trump's post on social media. She said reading it made her feel "a deep sense of gratitude."
Citing reports, Moore said between 50,000 and 100,000 Christians were killed and more than 19,000 Christian churches were attacked or destroyed since 2009.
Moore said data from Open Doors, which is an international watchdog group, revealed that "more Christians are killed every year in Nigeria than the rest of the world combined." He added that hundreds of others were kidnapped, tortured, or displaced by extremist groups, including Boko Haram, ISIS West Africa, and the Fulani militants.
Trump previously designated Nigeria as a CPC in 2020, but former President Joe Biden removed the designation in 2021.
Designating a "country of particular concern" under the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act is an executive prerogative that normally follows recommendations from both the congressionally mandated U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and the State Department.
The State Department usually releases its annual Report on International Religious Freedom in the spring, but has not yet done so this year. The report may or may not include “particular concern” designations, which can be done at any time. And, such designations, which authorize U.S. penalties, do not necessarily impose sanctions.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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