American rapper Nicki Minaj has explained her decision to publicly address the alleged p+rsecution of Christians in Nigeria, citing personal ties to the country and reports of att+cks 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 Charlie Kirk.
Explaining her motivation, the rapper 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 k+dnapped while they’re in church, people are being k+lled, br¥talised, 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 b¥llies anymore. We will speak up for Christians wherever they are in this world.”
Minaj also spoke on 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 had earlier shared a screenshot of a post by United States President Donald Trump on Truth Social, where he wrote on October 31 that “Christianity is facing an existential thr+at in Nigeria.”
Reacting 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.”
At AmericaFest, Minaj also praised Trump and Vice President JD Vance, and said Christians face challenges in the United States. “Christians have been persecuted right here in our country in different ways,” she said.
However, the Federal Government has consistently rejected claims of a coordinated or systematic persecution of Christians, insisting that insecurity affects Nigerians of all religious backgrounds.
