Trump’s warning to Nigeria offers hope to nation's persecuted Christians
A Nigerian pastor and other Christians have welcomed President Donald Trump s pressure on the Abuja leadership to bring an end to the killing of Christians The president in recent months designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern and warned he is considering stopping aid and introducing financial and other sanctions against regime representatives But the Christians Fox News Digital has talked to while welcoming Trump's encouragement say they don t want U S Troops to be sent into Nigeria to stop the widespread murder of their co-religionists in one of the worst-affected areas the Middle Belt of the West African nation Asking to be only identified by his first name due to fear of reprisals Pastor Fred recounted Fox News Digital from Plateau State For the last years we've been trying to raise an alarm because the voices of people have been silenced Hopefully by doing this it'll challenge the Nigerian administration and those with influence and power to make a difference because lives are being lost CRUZ CLASHES WITH NIGERIA OVER HIS STATES CHRISTIANS KILLED SINCE IN RELIGIOUS VIOLENCEDespite Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posting a warning earlier this month that The Department of War is preparing for action Either the Nigerian administration protects Christians or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities but Pastor Fred whose church has been attacked multiple times by Islamic militants is firmly against any outside military action I find that quite uncomfortable as a Nigerian imagining soldiers coming in I m very uncomfortable with it but I m more uncomfortable with the fact that people are being slaughtered and the authorities is doing very little too A leading bishop in Nigeria s Plateau State who didn t want to give his name because of his safety narrated Fox News Digital of his relief about the president s comments I feel very delighted I'm so happy It's a very very welcome evolution Last month President Trump posted on Truth Social saying three of every four Christians murdered in the world in the past year of the deaths worldwide were killed in Nigeria These are the exact numbers published by Open Doors in their World Watchlist Open Doors is a global Christian charity supporting Christians persecuted for their faith WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS TO SURGE IN CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION DILEMMA ACROSS SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAThe U S Commission on International Religious Freedom states that about of Nigeria s population is Christian and multiple sources claim that in the bishop s Plateau State of the population is reported to be Christian Yet wave after wave of radicalized Muslim Fulani nomadic tribesmen have mounted repeated attacks on Christians there often decapitating children and seizing their land The bishop noted The challenge that we have is that Fulani militants are coming to kill without anybody stopping them They kill with impunity You call the defense Nigerian functionaries If they come they come late after people have been killed and after homes have been burnt In December the bishop disclosed his experience was typical They Fulani militants killed people We thought it was over While we went to do the burial they attacked more than villages in Plateau State killing more than people including children The Bishop is grateful for President Trump s intervention the Christians here feel that this enhancement is right Somebody in Washington is checking somebody's looking somebody is observing what is happening in Nigeria and we believe this is going to put pressure on the cabinet We want to make sure that the defense forces begin to do what they ought to do Fox News Digital is in possession of documented cases where while attacking Nigerian Christians Fulani militants have shouted Death to all Christians A Nigerian lawyer Fox News Digital talked with this week reported conditions have been indescribably tough saying the comments by President Trump are cheering to me and also to a great number of Nigerians especially from the Middle Belt a region where thousands have been killed maimed pregnant women having their bellies ripped open their farmlands destroyed and their ancestral lands taken over by the vicious Fulani militants The lawyer informed Fox News Digital President Trump's intervention is timely and it should be done fast before the Nigerian authorities turns to Russia or China The lawyer didn t want his name published as he fears for his safety The Nigerian governing body have not cared much about the plight of these people the lawyer added He hoped that the U S will act in different solutions to free the minority Christians from the hegemony of the Fulani militants Nigeria s minister of information and national orientation stated Fox News Digital The federal administration of Nigeria has taken note of contemporary remarks by U S President Donald J Trump regarding the state of religious freedom and protection in Nigeria While we appreciate any expression of concern for the well-being of Nigerians we wish to clarify that Nigeria remains firmly committed to protecting the rights safety and freedom of worship of all its citizens Christians Muslims and people of other faiths The minister continued Nigeria is a multi-religious nation where communities of different beliefs have coexisted for centuries The regime continues to confront violent extremism in all its forms whether motivated by ideology criminality or ethnicity and works closely with regional and international partners to ensure peace and stability across our borders Any external engagement on this issue must be grounded in facts mutual respect and partnership rather than perception or misinformation
