Faith, Fear & Foreign Voices: Nicki Minaj, Kidnapped Schoolgirls & Nigeria’s Image

This morning on Base Sunrise Charity Owoh guided listeners through a powerful and troubling conversation about Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges and its global image. It began with Nicki Minaj, who used a United Nations platform to call out what she described as the “deadly threat” against Christians in Nigeria. Speaking alongside U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz, Minaj urged the world to defend freedom of belief, emphasizing that protecting Nigerians is about uniting humanity, not dividing people. Meanwhile, back home, Nigeria faces stark realities. Security forces have intensified efforts to locate 25 schoolgirls abducted from a boarding school in Kebbi State. Gunmen stormed the school in the early hours, killing the vice-principal and taking the students. Families are distraught, and authorities have deployed both military and vigilante groups to secure the safe return of the girls. Adding to public concern, a viral video from a church in Kwara State has emerged, allegedly showing worshippers under attack. While authorities are still verifying the details, the video underscores the fears Minaj highlighted regarding the safety of Christians in Nigeria. On today’s episode, Charity Owoh asks pressing questions: - What does it mean when international voices are speaking louder than local authorities? - Are these tragedies primarily about religious persecution or part of a broader security crisis? - How do these incidents affect Nigeria’s image both domestically and internationally, and what must be done to reclaim it? Listeners are invited to tune in to Base Sunrise and hear Charity Owoh explore these urgent issues with insight, context, and on-the-ground perspective.