VIDEO: Why I spoke out for Nigerian Christians — Nicki Minaj

American rapper, Nicki Minaj, has explained why she decided to publicly speak about the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, citing her personal ties to the country and reports of attacks on worshippers.

Minaj made the remarks during a surprise appearance at AmericaFest on Sunday, where she responded to a question posed by Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk

Asked what inspired her to speak up for Christians in Nigeria, the rapper referenced her connection to the country and concerns over reported violence.

She said, “Nigeria is a place I’ve always loved. Someone very dear to me, my pastor, is Nigerian, and I have lots of Nigerian barbs.

“So hearing that people are being kidnapped while they’re in church, people are being killed, brutalised, all because of their religion — that should spark outrage.”

She added, “We’re not backing down anymore. We are not going to be silenced by the bullies anymore. We will speak up for Christians wherever they are in this world.”

Minaj also spoke about religious freedom globally, stressing that many people take the right to worship for granted.

“We take for granted that there, right now in this world, are people who cannot worship God as they please, where they please.

“Every time we pray in fellowship, we have to remember the people that are right now in this world hiding to pray in fellowship, and we have to pray for them,” she said.

The rapper, who has previously voiced concerns about Nigeria, had earlier shared a screenshot of a post by United States President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform, where he wrote on October 31 that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.”

Reacting to the post on November 1, Minaj wrote, “Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practising their religion.”

PUNCH Online reports that Minaj made headlines last month for raising concerns about the treatment of Christians in Nigeria during a collaboration with US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz.

At the AmericaFest event, she also praised Trump and Vice President JD Vance, describing them as leaders who understand the concerns of ordinary Americans.

Elsewhere during the question-and-answer session, Minaj said Christians also face challenges in the United States, arguing that leadership matters when it comes to protecting religious freedom.

“Christians have been persecuted right here in our country in different ways. So when we talk about Nigeria and other countries, know that prior administrations saw nothing wrong with that, and that’s what was wrong with them,” she said.

However, the Federal Government has consistently rejected claims of a coordinated or systematic genocide against Christians in the country.

The government has described such narratives as false and misleading, insisting that insecurity affects Nigerians of all religious backgrounds.

The government’s position, as reported by The PUNCH, is that the country’s security challenges are complex and not driven by a state-backed campaign against any particular faith.

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