American rapper Nicki Minaj has explained why she decided to publicly speak about the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, saying her action was driven by her personal ties to the country and reports of attacks on worshippers.
Minaj made the remarks during a surprise appearance at AmericaFest on Sunday while responding to a question from Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Explaining her decision, the rapper said Nigeria holds a special place for her and that she was troubled by reports of violence against Christians.
“Nigeria is a place I’ve always loved. Someone very dear to me, my pastor, is Nigerian, and I have lots of Nigerian Barbs,” she said.
“So hearing that people are being kidnapped in church, killed and brutalised just because of their religion should make people angry.”
Minaj added that she would no longer remain silent on the issue.
“We’re not backing down anymore. We are not going to be silenced by bullies. We will speak up for Christians wherever they are in the world,” she said.
The rapper also spoke on religious freedom globally, noting that many people take the right to worship freely for granted.
“There are people in this world right now who cannot worship God where and how they want. Every time we pray openly, we should remember those hiding to pray and pray for them too,” she said.
Nicki Minaj had earlier shared a post by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform, where he wrote that Christianity was facing an “existential threat” in Nigeria.
Reacting to the post, Minaj said it made her grateful to live in a country where people can freely practise their faith, stressing that no group should be persecuted for their religion.
She also praised President Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the AmericaFest event, describing them as leaders who understand the concerns of ordinary Americans.
However, the Federal Government of Nigeria has repeatedly dismissed claims of a coordinated persecution of Christians, insisting that insecurity affects Nigerians of all religious backgrounds.
