American rapper Nicki Minaj has raised global attention to allegations of targeted attacks against Christians in Nigeria, during her address at a United Nations event in New York on Tuesday.
Minaj, who appeared alongside U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Michael Waltz, used her platform to condemn what she described as alarming violence against religious communities in Nigeria. Her remarks were broadcast on the official YouTube channel of the U.S. Mission to the UN.
“Back in way too many places… in Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes and killed. Churches have been burned, families have been torn apart, and entire communities live in fear simply because of how they pray,” she said.
The rapper stressed that the concern is not limited to Nigeria, adding that similar patterns of violence are emerging in other parts of the world.
“Sadly, this problem is not only a growing problem in Nigeria but also in so many other countries — and it demands urgent action,” she noted.
Minaj clarified that advocating for the protection of Christians should not be misinterpreted as taking sides.
“Protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity. Nigeria is a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions — and lots of beautiful Barbz that I can’t wait to see,” she added.
Referencing attacks on places of worship, she said, “When one’s church, mosque, or place of worship is destroyed, everyone’s heart should break. And the foundation of the United Nations, with its core mandate of peace and security, should shake.”
Minaj also commended interfaith leaders and peace advocates at the event, praising their efforts to strengthen unity and protect the right to worship freely.
“I hope it will encourage deepened solidarity for us to urgently work together to ensure every person can enjoy the right to believe, to worship, and to live in peace… Barbz,” she said.
- The UN dialogue follows recent statements by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened military intervention against extremists in Nigeria if attacks on Christians continue. Trump had also designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” a classification the Nigerian government has firmly rejected.
