Nicki Minaj condemns killing of Christians in Nigeria, calls for urgent action
American rapper Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known professionally as Nicki Minaj has condemned the killing of Christians in Nigeria, while calling for urgent international action.
She made this known during a United Nations event organized by United States Ambassador, Mike Waltz, on Tuesday.
Minaj who is often regarded as the ‘Queen of Rap’ and one of the most influential rappers of all time, has repeatedly decried the situation with Nigeria Christians on her X handle, prompting the US diplomat to invite her for the event.
The rapper who thanked the US President Donald Trump for drawing global attention to the issue, advocated religious freedom for all, noting that music had shown her the power of unity across cultures and beliefs, warning that faith was “under attack in way too many places”.
“I would like to thank President Trump for prioritizing this issue and his leadership on the global stage in calling for urgent action to defend Christians in Nigeria and to combat extremism and to bring a stop to violence against those who simply want to express their natural right to freedom of religion or belief.
“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 constantly simply because of how they pray,” the music star said.
She further stressed the need for urgent attention, noting that her position was not political or divisive.
“I want to be clear, protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity.
“This is about standing up in the face of injustice. It’s about what I’ve always stood for my entire career and I will continue to stand for that for the rest of my life,” she added.
Minaj’s public outcry against Christian killings in Nigeria correlates with President’s Trump admonition to the Nigerian Government to combat the menace of religious extremism and terrorism in the Country, warning that the United States would take military action in Nigeria against “Islamic terrorists” if the government does not move fast.
Trump who designated Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’, had accused the Nigerian Government of not taking drastic measures in stemming the alleged genocide against Christian population in the country — an allegation the Nigerian Government had denied.
Trump had also threatened to place sanctions on Nigeria by stopping all aids and assistance to the Country, if the government does not move fast in tackling terrorism and protecting Christians.
