(DDM) – The Chairman of the Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association, Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Kure, has described the recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Concern” (CPC) by U.S. President Donald J. Trump as a welcome development and a long-overdue call to conscience.
Speaking in Kaduna, Apostle Kure stated that the U.S. action reflects “global awareness of the realities that Nigerian Christians have faced for years, killings, abductions, and forced displacement, while government responses remain inadequate.”
According to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) findings, the CPC designation by the U.S. reopens a sensitive debate on religious freedom and governance in Nigeria, especially amid rising accusations of state indifference to targeted attacks in Christian-dominated regions.
Apostle Kure noted that many Nigerians, particularly in the Middle Belt and parts of the North, have endured unrelenting assaults by bandits and insurgents, yet “successive governments continue to issue statements without meaningful action.”
He emphasized that Trump’s move is not an act of hostility against Nigeria but rather “a mirror held up to our conscience as a nation that must rediscover fairness, equity, and the sanctity of life.”
The cleric urged the Federal Government to respond not with denial but with reforms, including transparent investigations, fair compensation for victims, and stronger security networks for vulnerable communities.
He also called on religious leaders across the country to unite in truth, noting that “the issue is not Islam or Christianity but the urgent need for justice, compassion, and respect for every human life.”
DDM recalls that in recent weeks, Washington’s renewed attention on Nigeria’s human rights record has drawn mixed reactions, with some Nigerian officials rejecting claims of Christian persecution, while civil society groups argue that the international spotlight could help drive long-awaited accountability.
Apostle Kure concluded that the CPC tag should not be seen as a threat but as “a divine warning for the nation’s leaders to retrace their steps before the fabric of unity and coexistence is torn beyond repair.”
He further appealed to international partners to engage Nigeria constructively through humanitarian support, education, and peacebuilding initiatives rather than sanctions.
The cleric’s statement has since sparked conversations across religious and political circles, amplifying calls for transparency and decisive action in safeguarding Nigeria’s plural identity and moral conscience.