"Christianity facing an existential threat in Nigeria," Trump puts country on US watch list

Trump further stated that the US cannot stand such "atrocities" and assured the Christian community of support.
"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!" he said.

In June, over twenty people were killed in a militant attack on the home village of a Nigerian bishop, just days after he testified before the US Congress about the persecution of Christians in the country, Fox News reported, citing local reports.

The assault is among a series of deadly incidents in Plateau and Benue states this year, where hundreds have been killed.

According to international watchdog group Open Doors, nearly 70 per cent of Christians killed worldwide for their faith last year were from Nigeria. The group attributed the violence mainly to Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Fulani militant herders, who frequently target Christian farmers in the Middle Belt region. Rights groups estimate that several thousand Christians are killed annually, with many others forced to flee their homes, Fox News reported.

Mark Walker, President Donald Trump's ambassador-designate for International Religious Freedom, told Fox News that the United States must increase pressure on Nigeria to respond to the escalating violence.

"Even being conservative, it's probably 4,000 to 8,000 Christians killed annually," Walker said. "This has been going on for years -- from ISWAP to Islamist Fulani ethnic militias -- and the Nigerian government has to be much more proactive."

Walker, a former pastor and Republican congressman from North Carolina, said he has been working with church networks across Africa to protect missionaries and local believers.

"This isn't about appropriations or politics -- this is about human life. We're talking about boys and girls, about women being kidnapped and horrific things happening. All of us should raise our voices," he added.

Walker also said he plans to work closely with Senator Marco Rubio to strengthen US advocacy once confirmed. "Fortunately, we have a Secretary of State who has been one of the stronger voices," Walker said. "He's already put out statements and is very in tune with what's going on. I look forward to advising him when it comes to countries of particular concern."

The White House has acknowledged a surge in anti-Christian violence across sub-Saharan Africa, warning that jihadist groups are exploiting political instability and porous borders. Both Pope Leo and the US State Department have condemned recent massacres in Nigeria, cautioning that the crisis could spread beyond the country's borders, Fox News reported.

However, Nigerian authorities have denied that Christians are being systematically targeted. Information Minister Mohammed Idris told Fox News that claims of mass persecution were "very misleading," rejecting reports that tens of thousands had been killed.

US Senator Ted Cruz also weighed in, saying, "Since 2009, over 50,000 Christians in Nigeria have been massacred and over 20,000 churches and Christian schools have been destroyed." He described the violence as "a crisis of religious genocide" and called for stronger US measures.