U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated that Christians in Nigeria face an "existential threat" from "radical Islamists," labeling the nation a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom violations and directing Congress to probe the issue urgently amid accusations of mass killings that Nigerian officials dismiss as exaggerated and unsubstantiated.

In a White House video posted on X, Trump claimed "thousands and thousands" of Christians are dying, blaming jihadists for the "mass slaughter" and announcing the legal designation based on U.S. standards. "When Christians... are slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria – 3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide – something has to be done," he said, tasking Rep. Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole for immediate reports.

"The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities happen... We stand ready to save our great Christian population around the world."

The remarks, amplifying his October 31 Truth Social post threatening aid halts and "guns-a-blazing" intervention, risk $1.03 billion in annual U.S. support to Nigeria, a key counter-terror partner.

The "Country of Particular Concern" tag, last applied in 2020 under Trump's first term and revoked by President Biden, enables sanctions like visa bans, echoing calls from lawmakers like Sen. Ted Cruz for official accountability.

Nigeria's government rebuffed the narrative as "misleading," citing "faulty data" and emphasizing 1,200 arrests this year across faiths in resource clashes. President Bola Tinubu, in an October 31 statement, affirmed constitutional protections for all religions, engaging leaders from both communities since 2023. "The portrayal of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality," he said, proposing a summit with Trump for dialogue.

Africa's most populous country, split between a Muslim-majority north and Christian-majority south, endures intertwined violence from banditry and extremism like Boko Haram, killing thousands indiscriminately since 2009, per Open Doors and USCIRF, which ranks Nigeria ninth for persecution with 7,000 Christian deaths in 2025 and 19,100 church attacks since 2009.

The escalation strains ties, with Information Minister Mohammed Idris praising Nigeria's multi-faith protections. As Congress probes, the rhetoric could disrupt security cooperation in the Sahel.