Mike Waltz, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, has described the ongoing killings of Christians in Nigeria as “a genocide disguised as chaos.”
According to Fox News, Waltz made the remark on Tuesday during an event hosted by the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
He said there is overwhelming evidence showing that Christians in Nigeria are suffering disproportionate violence.
“There is a body of evidence… that paints a very grim picture of disproportionate suffering among Christians, where families are torn apart, clergy is repeatedly assassinated, and entire church congregations,” Waltz said.
“Folks, we have an entire faith that is being erased — one bullet at a time, one torched Bible at a time.”
American rapper Nicki Minaj also spoke at the event, saying she felt compelled to speak out against religious persecution.
“In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes and killed. Churches have been burned. Families torn apart. Entire communities live in constant fear simply because of how they pray,” she said.
The event focused on rising religious violence and reports of targeted attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria.
Earlier reports noted that Waltz and Minaj were scheduled to headline the UN program, facilitated by political strategist Alex Bruesewitz. The engagement marks one of the most high-profile global responses to Nigeria’s religious-violence crisis.
The issue has drawn increased international attention in recent months.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” threatening military action over what he described as ongoing violence against Christians and the government’s failure to protect religious minorities.
The Nigerian government has consistently denied claims of religious persecution.
