American rapper Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, popularly known as Nicki Minaj, has raised concerns over the treatment of Christians in Nigeria, claiming they are being driven from their homes and killed.
Her remarks echoed allegations previously made by former US President Donald Trump regarding targeted attacks on Christian communities.
Minaj made the statement on Tuesday while speaking at a United States-hosted event at the United Nations, focused on religious violence and the safety of Christians in Nigeria.
She said, “In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted. Churches have been burned, families have been torn apart … simply because of how they pray.”
She emphasized that her comments were not intended to divide Nigerians but to highlight the suffering of victims caught in the country’s ongoing security crisis.
The rapper, known for advocating against global injustices, stressed that her focus was humanitarian, not political.
“This is about standing up in the face of injustice. It’s about what I’ve always stood for,” Minaj added, speaking alongside US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz.
She also thanked Trump for prioritizing the issue and praised Nigeria as “a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions,” acknowledging her Nigerian fanbase, the “Barbz.”
Her intervention follows Trump’s recent designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” warning that US troops could intervene if attacks on Christians continued.
The former president highlighted reports of raids, arson, and killings in northern Nigeria by armed groups.
The Nigerian government has rejected claims of religious persecution, arguing that the country’s insecurity affects people of all faiths and is driven by land disputes, inter-ethnic conflicts, and criminal activities.
Security analysts have cautioned that foreign commentary, if not fully informed, could worsen tensions.
Ambassador Waltz praised Minaj for using her global platform to draw attention to the plight of Christians in Nigeria, calling her remarks an important amplification of an ongoing conversation about the country’s security challenges.
