US–based Trinidadian rapper and singer, Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, popularly known as Nicki Minaj, has credited her Nigerian pastor for inspiring her to speak publicly about the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, and has urged other celebrities and social media influencers to use their platforms to highlight the issue.

She spoke on Saturday at an X Takeover event held at Tesla’s Giga Texas facility in Austin, Texas, where she explained her personal link to Nigeria and called for wider international attention to reports of violence against Christians in the country.

Minaj said her pastor’s Nigerian roots, together with her large following of Nigerian fans, gave her a direct connection to the country.

“For Nigeria personally, my pastor is from Nigeria, so I have a link to Nigeria because of him. And of course, I have a lot of Nigerian barbs, but what I started seeing was the brutality with which Christians are being treated there just for being Christian,” she said.

The rapper, who calls her fans Barbz, also asked why more public figures had stayed silent on the matter. She suggested that people often shy away from subjects they regard as controversial.

“And I thought, why isn’t anyone making a big deal out of this, you know? And sometimes when things aren’t cool to talk about, people don’t talk about it,” she added.

Minaj said she hoped others in the entertainment and social media space would take up the cause and help sustain public attention on the situation.

“So right now, actually, I’m hoping that more celebrities or people, influencers, I’m hoping that they come aboard the train to start speaking out about what’s happening to Christians in Nigeria. And I look forward to doing more to help in that way, in that cause,” Minaj said. (Nigerian Tribune)