By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
United States–based Trinidadian rapper, Nicki Minaj, stunned global delegates at the United Nations on Tuesday as she delivered an emotional plea for urgent action to protect Christians in Nigeria from what she described as “deadly, targeted attacks”.
Minaj, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, said she felt “nervous but compelled” to speak out, insisting her intervention was driven by humanity, not politics.
“No group should ever be persecuted for practising their religion… we don’t have to share the same beliefs in order to respect each other,” she told the assembly.
Addressing the UN at the invitation of Ambassador Waltz, Minaj thanked US President Donald Trump for “prioritising this issue”, saying his calls for global action to defend Nigerian Christians had helped intensify international attention.
Minaj painted a grim picture of worsening violence in Nigeria, where, according to her, Christians are being “targeted, driven from their homes, and killed”.
She added: “Churches have been burned, families torn apart, and entire communities live in constant fear simply because of how they pray.”
She emphasised that her advocacy was not about division but unity. “Protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides. It is about uniting humanity,” she said, describing Nigeria as “a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions”.
The multi-award-winning rapper spoke passionately about her global experiences, noting how music had shown her the power of shared humanity across cultures. “I have seen how people, no matter their language, culture, or religion, come alive when a song touches their soul.”
But she warned that religious freedom — the right “to sing our faith” — was under threat in many parts of the world.
She called on the UN to rise to its founding mandate: “When one’s church, mosque, or place of worship is destroyed, everyone’s heart should break… and the foundation of the United Nations should shake.”
Minaj praised peace-builders and faith leaders who continue to work across religious and cultural lines, saying their courage inspired her.
She urged the international community to strengthen interfaith solidarity and defend the innocent.
In a tribute to her global fan base, she added with a soft smile: “Barbs, I know you’re somewhere listening. I love you so very much.”
The rapper ended her speech with a vow to continue speaking up for the oppressed: “This isn’t about taking sides. It’s about standing up in the face of injustice… For the rest of my life, I will care if anyone anywhere is being persecuted for their beliefs.”
Her remarks drew widespread attention online, where supporters praised her courage and critics questioned her intervention in Nigerian affairs. But at the UN, her message was clear: silence is no longer an option.
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