The U.S. Department of State updated its designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” following President Trump’s threat to deploy troops to the country.
An updated notice from the State Department reads: “On October 31, 2025: President Trump also designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.”
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) celebrated the move, declaring that they have recommended Nigeria be designated as such a country since 2009.
“USCIRF applauds President Trump for speaking out on the religious freedom crisis in Nigeria and making Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern,” said USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler. “The US Government can now develop a tough plan with Nigeria to ensure that perpetrators of violence are held to account, people of faith are protected, and those held hostage are rescued.”
On Friday, President Trump declared that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.”
Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’ — But that is the least of it,” he wrote on Truth Social.
He added that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!”
Trump later threatened to pause aid to the country and suggested he would be open to going “into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
