American rapper Nicki Minaj has explained her decision to publicly speak out about the plight of Christians in Nigeria, citing personal connections and deeply concerning reports of violence.

The artist addressed the issue during a surprise appearance at AmericaFest, responding to a question from the audience regarding the situation in Nigeria.

Minaj revealed that Nigeria holds a special place in her heart, and she has been particularly disturbed by accounts of attacks on Christians. She stated her pastor is Nigerian and that she receives significant support from her Nigerian fanbase, affectionately known as “Nigerian barbs.”

“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 while they’re in church, people are being killed, brutalised, all because of their religion, that should spark outrage.”

Minaj argued that remaining silent in the face of such oppression is unacceptable. “We’re not backing down anymore. We are not going to be silenced by the bullies anymore. We will speak up for Christians wherever they are in this world,” she declared.

She broadened the discussion to encompass religious freedom globally, highlighting that many individuals are denied the basic right to worship freely. Minaj cautioned against taking this freedom 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,” she explained. “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.”

Minaj’s comments came after she reacted to a social media post by former United States President Donald Trump, who asserted that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.” At the time, Minaj expressed gratitude for the freedom to worship in her own country and condemned religious persecution.

“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,” she wrote.

During AmericaFest, Minaj also commended President Trump and Vice President JD Vance for understanding the concerns of ordinary citizens. She further noted that Christians also encounter challenges within the United States, emphasizing the crucial role of leadership in safeguarding religious freedom.

“Christians have been persecuted right here in our country in different ways. So when we talk about Nigeria and other countries, know that prior administrations saw nothing wrong with that, and that’s what was wrong with them,” she concluded.

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