American evangelist Franklin Graham has called on President Donald Trump to pressure President Bola Tinubu to protect Christians facing violent attacks in Nigeria.
Mr Graham made the appeal in a post on X on Saturday following reports of the killing of relatives of Plateau-based cleric Ezekiel Dachomo.
“Pray for the persecuted Christians in Nigeria,” Mr Graham wrote. “Pray that President @realDonaldTrump will put pressure on the Muslim president of Nigeria to protect innocent Christians who are being butchered by radical followers of Islam.”
He also shared comments attributed to Mr Dachomo, who described the impact of the violence on Christian communities in Plateau State.
“This pastor said, ‘I know what it means to stand before grieving families whose only crime was refusing to deny Jesus Christ... Now they say I will be next. But I ask the world, what is my crime?’” Mr Graham said.
Mr Graham's intervention adds to an ongoing campaign by American lawmakers and religious leaders calling attention to attacks on Christians in Nigeria. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and Congressman Riley Moore have been among those advocating stronger U.S. action on religious persecution in the country.
The campaign has focused on allegations that Christians have been targeted by Islamist extremist groups operating in parts of Nigeria.
Last year, the Trump administration redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom and security concerns. The United States also ordered military action against ISIS-linked terrorists in Sokoto.
In May, U.S. forces coordinated an air raid on an ISIS camp in Nigeria's North-East, killing Abu Bilal Al-Minuki, identified as the group's second-in-command, along with other militants.
The renewed calls from U.S. religious and political figures come as concerns over insecurity and sectarian violence in parts of Nigeria continue to draw international attention.
