American rapper Nicki Minaj has drawn international attention to alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria, calling for urgent coordinated action from world leaders during a United Nations event hosted Tuesday by United States Ambassador Mike Waltz.
Her remarks come amid growing global debate over religious freedom and recent warnings from former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding rising violence in the country.
Minaj, who has increasingly used her platform to speak on the issue in recent months, said she received an invitation to the UN gathering after her posts on X (formerly Twitter) drew the attention of Ambassador Waltz.
She opened her address by thanking Trump, praising what she described as his commitment to prioritizing religious freedom and confronting extremist violence.
The rapper, known for her outspoken advocacy on social issues, said her career in music had shown her how unity can transcend cultures and beliefs. She argued that religious freedom should be a universal right that allows people to “sing their faith” without fear.
“Faith is under attack in way too many places,” Minaj warned. She went on to state that Christians in Nigeria “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.”
Minaj emphasized that the reported violence required urgent international attention, calling on governments, human rights organizations, and global institutions to step in. She maintained that her stance was neither political nor partisan.
“I want to be clear, protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity,” she said, insisting that addressing religious persecution should be seen as a collective moral obligation.
Her remarks appeared to echo recent statements by Trump, who has said he intends to add Nigeria to the U.S. list of Countries of Particular Concern over violations of religious freedom. The former president has also threatened to halt all aid to Nigeria and even raised the possibility of military intervention should attacks on Christians continue.
Minaj concluded her speech by reinforcing her message of unity and justice. “I want to make it clear once again, this isn’t about taking sides. 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.”
Her comments have since sparked conversations across diplomatic, political, and religious circles, with supporters praising her for amplifying a longstanding humanitarian crisis. Critics, however, have questioned aspects of recent political rhetoric surrounding Nigeria, urging caution and accuracy when discussing complex security issues.
As reactions continue to grow, Minaj’s intervention underscores how influential global figures can shape international discourse—and potentially pressure policymakers—on issues far beyond the entertainment world.
