American rap superstar Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, popularly known as Nicki Minaj, has joined a growing international conversation on violence in Nigeria, using a United Nations (UN) platform to call for the protection of religious freedom and an end to attacks on civilians.

Minaj delivered a keynote address at a United States (US) Mission to the UN conference on Combating Religious Violence and the Killing of Christians in Nigeria on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. The Grammy-winning rapper told diplomats and attendees that “no group should ever be persecuted because of their faith,” stressing that her intervention was motivated by a desire to “unite humanity” rather than to take sides.

“In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted. Churches have been burned, families have been torn apart simply because of how they pray,” she said. “I want to make it very clear, once again, that this isn’t about taking sides. This is about standing up in the face of injustice. It’s about what I’ve always stood for.”

Minaj also thanked the US President, Donald Trump, for “prioritizing this issue” and for his call for global action to defend Christians in Nigeria.

In recent weeks, Trump had declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” and accused the Nigerian government of failing to curb alleged religiously motivated killings. He went as far as threatening to halt US assistance to Nigeria and consider military measures if the violence continued.

Minaj acknowledged her fanbase in Nigeria and described the country as “a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions,” insisting that her stance is rooted in compassion and her desire to use her platform for a greater purpose.

However, the event sparked diplomatic friction after Nigeria was excluded from participating. The chargé d’affaires at Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Syndoph Endoni, criticised the US for convening a discussion on Nigeria without inviting Nigerian representatives.

Endoni said the decision to shut out Nigerian diplomats amounted to “shaving our head in our absence,” arguing that a country accused of genocide should be present to give its own account. The Nigerian envoy expressed disappointment that only a few countries were allowed to attend the meeting and insisted that Nigeria is not ignoring its security challenges. He urged the US to pursue “inclusive engagements” to avoid unnecessary tensions.

Nigeria maintains that the claims of a Christian genocide are inaccurate, insisting that terrorists and armed groups target citizens “regardless of background or belief.”