US President Donald Trump has threatened Nigeria in a Truth Social post, saying he may “do things to Nigeria that Nigeria is not going to be happy about” if the government “continues to allow the killing of Christians.” He described the country as “disgraced” and suggested potential military action.
Trump’s warning follows months of claims from US politicians and campaigners alleging that Islamist militants in Nigeria are systematically targeting Christians. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, for instance, cited figures claiming that since 2009, tens of thousands of Christians had been killed and thousands of churches destroyed.
However, the accuracy of these figures is disputed. The Nigerian government has pushed back, calling the claims a “gross misrepresentation of reality” and noting that jihadist groups attack Muslims, Christians, and those with no faith alike. Analysts say most victims are in the north, where Muslims are the majority, and that violence is often driven by broader security crises, including ethnic tensions, criminal networks, and competition over land and resources.
Reports from InterSociety, a Nigerian NGO, claim high numbers of Christian deaths but provide opaque sourcing. For 2025 alone, they estimate over 7,000 Christian deaths, but BBC verification suggests the total is closer to 3,000. Many incidents cited by InterSociety either did not specify victims’ religious identities or involved repeat reporting.
Other monitoring groups, such as Acled, report significantly lower numbers. Between 2020 and September 2025, only 384 incidents specifically targeted Christians, resulting in 317 deaths—far fewer than claimed by some US commentators.
Similarly, Open Doors, a Christian charity, recorded 3,100 Christian deaths between October 2023 and September 2024, but also noted that 2,320 Muslims were killed in the same period. Analysts emphasize that while Christians are still being targeted, violence in Nigeria often reflects broader insecurity rather than purely religious persecution.
Security experts also highlight the role of Fulani herders, who are mainly Muslim but involved in clashes with both Christian and Muslim communities over land and resources. These incidents are sometimes mischaracterized as religious violence.
In short, while attacks on Christians in Nigeria occur, data shows that the situation is complex and multi-faceted, and claims of systematic persecution or genocide are difficult to verify.