American rapper Nicki Minaj, also known as Onika Maraj-Petty, addressed a United Nations event in New York on Tuesday, drawing attention to the escalating violence targeting Christian communities in Nigeria.
Minaj joined U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Michael Waltz, at the forum, where she condemned the reported assaults on religious groups and called for urgent global action.
“Back in way too many places… in Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes and killed. Churches have been burned, families have been torn apart, and entire communities live in fear constantly simply because of how they pray,” she said, stressing the severity of the crisis.
She noted that the problem extends beyond Nigeria, warning that international intervention is critical. “Sadly, this problem is not only a growing problem in Nigeria but also in so many other countries across the world — and it demands urgent action,” Minaj said.
The rapper emphasised that advocating for the safety of Christians is not about creating divisions. “Protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity. Nigeria is a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions — and lots of beautiful Barbz that I can’t wait to see,” she added.
Speaking on the destruction of places of worship, Minaj said, “When one’s church, mosque, or place of worship is destroyed, everyone’s heart should break just a little bit. And the foundation of the United Nations, with its core mandate to ensure peace and security, should shake.”
She also praised peacebuilders and interfaith advocates at the event, stating, “I am inspired by their work to build interfaith ties, to see the humanity across the lines which might divide us, and to fight for security and liberty for all those who pray. I hope it will encourage deepened solidarity for us to urgently work together to ensure every person can enjoy the right to believe, to worship, and to live in peace… Barbz.”
The UN discussion follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent warning of potential military intervention against Islamic extremists in Nigeria if attacks on Christians continue.
Trump recently designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” a move the Nigerian government has rejected, maintaining that the violence is primarily criminal rather than religiously motivated.
