American rapper Nicki Minaj has explained why she publicly addressed the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, citing personal ties to the country and reports of violence against worshippers.
Minaj, who has a Nigerian pastor and a large fan base in the country, described the reports of alleged kidnappings and killings of Christians during church activities as “outrageous” and emphasised that silence only emboldens oppression.
Minaj spoke on the issue during a surprise appearance at AmericaFest, stating, “Nigeria is a place I’ve always loved. Someone very dear to me, my pastor, is Nigerian, and I have lots of Nigerian barbs.
“So hearing that people are being kidnapped while they’re in church, people are being killed, brutalized, all because of their religion that should spark outrage.
“We’re not backing down anymore. We are not going to be silenced by the bullies anymore. We will speak up for Christians wherever they are in this world.
“We take for granted that there, right now in this world, are people who cannot worship God as they please, where they please.
“Every time we pray in fellowship, we have to remember the people that are right now in this world hiding to pray in fellowship, and we have to pray for them,” she said.
Minaj’s remarks come after she reacted to a social media post by US President Donald Trump, who claimed that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria”.
She expressed gratitude for the freedom to worship in the US and condemned religious persecution.
She wrote, “Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practising their religion.
“Christians have been persecuted right here in our country in different ways. So when we talk about Nigeria and other countries, know that prior administrations saw nothing wrong with that, and that’s what was wrong with them,” she concluded.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims of a coordinated or systematic genocide against Christians, describing such narratives as false and misleading.
Authorities attributed the security challenges to terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts.
