THIS DAWN — United States’ President Donald Trump has sharply criticized the ongoing wave of violence in Nigeria, particularly the targeted attacks on Christian communities.
President Trump called the situation “a disgrace” and expressing anger over the country’s latest kidnappings.
Trump made the remarks during an interview with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade.
During the interview, he addressed global security concerns and the rise in extremist activity across parts of Africa.
“I’m really angry,” Trump said, raising his voice as he discussed recent abductions in northern Nigeria.
“What is happening to Christians in Nigeria is a total disgrace.
“These kidnappings—these attacks—should not be happening in this day and age,” he fumed.
His comments follow yet another round of mass kidnappings reported in several parts of Nigeria, where armed groups continue to target schools, churches, and rural communities.
Killings, abductions for ransom, and assaults on worship centers have escalated over the past few years.
The attacks have left authorities struggling to contain an ever-widening security crisis.
‘Christians, families killed, taken from homes’
Trump, who has frequently spoken about religious persecution worldwide, singled out Nigeria as a country in urgent need of international attention.
He argued that global powers should not remain silent while vulnerable communities are repeatedly targeted.
“You have innocent people—Christians, families—being killed or taken from their homes.
“The world should be talking about this. The U.S. should be talking about this,” he said.
During the interview, Trump also criticized what he described as insufficient pressure on Nigerian authorities to halt the violence.
While he did not propose a specific policy response, he suggested that a stronger international stance could help curb the crisis.
Security experts note that Nigeria’s kidnapping industry has grown into a multi-billion-naira criminal enterprise.
These are driven by loosely organized bandit groups, jihadist factions, and opportunistic militants who exploit the country’s porous borders and limited state presence in remote areas.
Attacks on Christian communities—particularly in the Middle Belt and northwest—have drawn global concern.
Meanwhile, analysts warn that the violence is often rooted in overlapping religious, ethnic, and economic tensions.
Trump’s comments are already generating discussion among diaspora groups and religious freedom organizations.
Many of them have long urged Washington to reclassify Nigeria as a country of particular concern.
As Nigeria contends with worsening insecurity, Trump’s forceful rebuke is likely to add pressure on international bodies to demand accountability and stronger protection for at-risk communities.
