Nicki Minaj - the US-based, multi-million-selling Trinidadian rapper - has publicly backed President Donald Trump's allegations that Christians face persecution in Nigeria.
In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, Minaj said on Tuesday at a UN event organised by the US, adding that Churches have been burned, families have been torn apart … simply because of how they pray.
This follows recent threats by Trump to send troops into Nigeria guns a-blazing if its government continues to allow the killing of Christians.
However, the Nigerian presidency states that the widespread violence that has long plagued the West African nation affects everyone, regardless of background or belief.
Minaj argued that advocating for the protection of Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people, but rather uniting humanity. She thanked Trump for prioritizing this issue and for his leadership.
Amidst various claims from right-wing campaigners in Washington about Islamist militants targeting Christians, analysts have pointed out that many violent incidents are often tied to resource disputes and inter-ethnic tensions.
While Nigeria's government acknowledges the existence of violence, it emphasizes that terrorists attack all who oppose their ideology - Muslims, Christians, and those without faith alike.
Minaj's remarks at the UN come amid heightened scrutiny around the claims of Christian persecution, with numerous sources indicating that the data backing these claims can be difficult to validate.
