American rapper Nicki Minaj has opened up about her personal connection to Nigeria and why she has been raising concerns over reports of attacks on Christians in the country.
She has also called on fellow celebrities and influencers to use their platforms to draw attention to the issue.
In a recently circulated video from her appearance at the X Takeover event in Austin, Texas, Minaj revealed that her pastor is Nigerian, giving her a personal connection to the country. She also noted that she has a large Nigerian fanbase, popularly known as the Barbz.
“I have a link to Nigeria because of him,” she said, referring to her pastor.
However, Minaj explained that her decision to speak out goes beyond those connections. She questioned why the reported treatment of Christians in Nigeria was not receiving more attention, suggesting that people can be reluctant to discuss issues they do not consider popular or fashionable.
The rapper encouraged other public figures to join the conversation, urging celebrities and influencers to “come aboard the train.” She added that she hopes to do more to support the cause.
“My pastor is from Nigeria, so I have a link to Nigeria because of him and I have a lot of Nigerian Barbz. Why isn’t anyone making a big deal out of the brutality in which Christians are being treated in Nigeria?”
– Nicki Minaj https://t.co/X7RChOGHGH
— Pulse Nigeria (@PulseNigeria247) October 11, 2026
This is not the first time Minaj has spoken about the issue. In October 2025, she shared a screenshot of a post by US President Donald Trump, dated October 31, in which he described Christianity as facing an “existential threat” in Nigeria.
The following month, she addressed the issue at a United Nations-related event in New York, where she alleged that Christians in Nigeria were being targeted, displaced and killed. She maintained that her position was not about taking sides or creating divisions.
On November 23, 2025, Minaj also shared a prayer on X for hostages abducted in Nigeria and Cameroon. In December, during a conversation with Erika Kirk at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, she again referenced her Nigerian pastor and pledged to speak up for Christians around the world.
Her comments have continued to attract attention amid an ongoing debate over religious violence in Nigeria. The Federal Government has repeatedly rejected claims that Christians are facing a coordinated or systematic campaign of persecution, maintaining that insecurity affects people of different religious backgrounds. Some international media outlets, including Rolling Stone, have also questioned aspects of how the claims have been presented.
The latest video has generated reactions on Nigerian social media, with many users focusing on Minaj’s revelation that her pastor is Nigerian and how that connection influenced her decision to speak publicly about the country.