Nicki Minaj is scheduled to address the United Nations after using her platform to draw attention to the killings of Christians in Nigeria. Human rights lawyer Knox Thames said thousands have been killed in the last 20 years and that "the body count is just too high to ignore," while noting the legal classification of the violence remains under debate. Former President Trump designated Nigeria a "country of particular concern" in late October, and Ambassador Mike Waltz praised Minaj for spotlighting the issue. Minaj said she felt "a deep sense of gratitude" and vowed to continue speaking out against injustice.
Nicki Minaj to Address the UN After Spotlighting Killings of Christians in Nigeria: 'Body Count Is Just Too High to Ignore'
Nicki Minaj is scheduled to address the United Nations after using her platform to draw attention to the killings of Christians in Nigeria. Human rights lawyer Knox Thames said thousands have been killed in the last 20 years and that "the body count is just too high to ignore," while noting the legal classification of the violence remains under debate. Former President Trump designated Nigeria a "country of particular concern" in late October, and Ambassador Mike Waltz praised Minaj for spotlighting the issue. Minaj said she felt "a deep sense of gratitude" and vowed to continue speaking out against injustice.
01:05 AM, 11/19/2025Conflict
Nicki Minaj to raise concern about Nigerian Christians at the United Nations
Rap superstar Nicki Minaj has drawn praise for using her platform to highlight attacks on Christians in Nigeria as she prepares to speak at the United Nations. Her involvement has prompted renewed attention from human rights advocates and U.S. officials who say the violence requires a broader international response.
Human rights lawyer Knox Thames, who served as a State Department special advisor on religious minorities under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, welcomed Minaj and other high-profile allies for bringing visibility to the crisis. "The challenges in Nigeria have been happening for decades, and they've largely been ignored. So I welcome these unsuspecting allies shining a light on this," Thames said.
"In the last 20 years, thousands of Christians have been killed, and the body count is just too high to ignore," Thames added, noting that whether the situation meets the legal definition of genocide is a matter for scholars and courts.
Former President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a "country of particular concern" in late October, citing widespread killings of Christians across the West African nation. On Oct. 31, he wrote on Truth Social that "Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria" and accused "radical Islamists" of responsibility for the violence.
Minaj responded that she felt "a deep sense of gratitude" for the increased attention on the issue. "We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion," she wrote, adding that respect does not require shared beliefs.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz, who described himself as a fan, praised Minaj on X for using her reach to "spotlight the atrocities against Christians in Nigeria" and said he looked forward to standing with her as they discuss possible responses. Minaj replied: "Ambassador, I am so grateful to be entrusted with an opportunity of this magnitude. I do not take it for granted. The Barbz and I will never stand down in the face of injustice. We’ve been given our influence by God. There must be a bigger purpose."
Reported contributions by Fox News Digital's Morgan Phillips.