Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga has condemned the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged religious persecution.
The designation, announced on Friday, October 31, followed what the U.S. described as “mass killings of Christians by Islamic groups” in parts of Nigeria.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio backed the move in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), saying the designation was necessary to hold Nigeria accountable for ongoing attacks against Christian communities.
Responding directly to Rubio’s post, Onanuga rejected the claim that violence in Nigeria is targeted solely at Christians, arguing that Muslims are also victims of extremist attacks.
“It is wrong to portray Nigeria’s security challenges as a religious war,” Onanuga wrote. “Terrorists and bandits are killing both Muslims and Christians. This is not about faith — it’s about criminality.”
The exchange drew mixed reactions online, with some users supporting Onanuga’s clarification and others accusing the Nigerian government of downplaying sectarian violence.
The U.S. designation places Nigeria under increased diplomatic scrutiny and could lead to restrictions on military aid or cooperation unless human rights conditions improve.
