Nigerian Officials Deny Christian Slaughter, Call For "Sit Down" With Trump

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to the White House was not the friendly encounter he expected, as he was instead questioned and tested on his government's human rights record, particularly regarding the treatment of white farmers. Ramaphosa's denials of mass murders and government oppression were exposed, and he failed to convince the western liberal media. A similar situation is unfolding in Nigeria, where the government is denying reports of Christian persecution despite evidence to the contrary. The Nigerian government is trying to downplay the issue, but sources on the ground, including NGOs and Christian persecution watchdogs, agree that Christians are being targeted and killed by Islamic militants. The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law estimates that over 125,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2009, and Open Doors ranks Nigeria as the deadliest country for Christians. The Nigerian government's attempts to blame Christians for the violence and categorize it as average crime are not convincing, and the US is considering financial cuts and sanctions in response. The US provides over $1 billion in annual aid to Nigeria, and President Trump has threatened to freeze this cash using sanctions and tariffs. The Nigerian government's lack of action to protect Christians and its own involvement in destroying Christian properties have been well-documented, and it will be hard-pressed to convince the US that Christians are not being targeted. The situation in Nigeria is dire, with thousands of Christians being killed and abducted every year, and the US is considering a range of options to address the issue. The Nigerian government's response to the criticism has been to deny any wrongdoing and blame the victims, but this tactic is unlikely to work, and the country may face significant financial and diplomatic consequences as a result.