Urgent action by the U.S. is needed to address the escalating religious persecution in Nigeria, where both Christians and Muslims face violence and discrimination.
At a Glance
- Human rights and religious liberty organizations urge Congress to address persecution in Nigeria.
- Nigeria should be designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the U.S. Department of State.
- About 90% of Christians killed for their faith worldwide last year were in Nigeria.
- Over 50,000 Christians have been killed by violent insurgency groups in Nigeria since 2009.
Human Rights Organizations Address Congressional Leaders
Representatives from human rights and religious liberty organizations have openly urged Congress to address the severe persecution in Nigeria. The call to action includes the pressing need for the U.S. Department of State to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). Such a designation would include the possibility of economic sanctions, which could significantly influence Nigeria given the $1 billion in annual U.S. aid provided to the country.
“A staggering 90 percent of all the Christians killed for their faith worldwide last year were killed in Nigeria, according to Open Doors, an increase from the 80 percent it reported in 2021,” the letter to Congress stated.
Over 4,000 Christians were killed, 3,300 abducted, and 100,000 displaced in Nigeria between October 2022 and September 2023. The violence primarily involves Fulani Muslim herders, Boko Haram, and Islamic State West Africa, targeting Christians with impunity. This ongoing persecution has seen 17,000 churches attacked or burned, reflecting a dire situation for Nigeria’s religious community.
U.S. Senators @HawleyMO @marcorubio & @SenatorBraun have called out the @StateDept for its failure to designate #Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
Over 50,000 Christians have been murdered in Nigeria since 2009. https://t.co/MQ8h2Rovr1
— International Christian Concern (@persecutionnews) March 8, 2024
U.S. State Department Criticized
Religious freedom activists criticize the Biden State Department for not including Nigeria on the “countries of particular concern” (CPC) watchlist. This omission contrasts with the previous administration’s stance on religious violence in Nigeria and highlights a “troubling inconsistency” in the United States’ approach to safeguarding religious liberties worldwide.
“The United States must hold the Nigerian government accountable for failing to protect the religious communities within Nigeria,” Wolf said.
Since 2009, Nigeria has witnessed rampant corruption and violence, including terrorism and ethno-religious conflicts. Authoritative reports and organizations, such as International Christian Concern (ICC), continually document the deteriorating conditions for religious freedom. Over 50,000 Christians have been killed by violent insurgency groups in the past decade. The Nigerian government often fails to protect Christians or investigate attacks, exacerbating the crisis.
Calls for Immediate U.S. Action
Eric Patterson, a religious freedom expert, emphasizes Nigeria’s strategic importance as the anchor of West Africa. Failure to control religious violence could destabilize Nigeria, potentially leading to civil war and millions of deaths. A comparison is drawn to the Rwandan genocide and the Second Congo War to highlight the potential impact of inaction.
“Every human being has the natural right to practice their faith freely,” said McKenna Wendt, Advocacy Manager for ICC. “For Christians in Nigeria, this right is threatened daily by unchecked terrorist violence and complicit government officials. The United States has long been a global leader in promoting religious freedom and now is not the time to waiver in our commitment. We urge the State Department to immediately designate Nigeria as a CPC.”
The U.S. policy under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) aims to promote religious freedom and hold violators accountable. By designating Nigeria as a CPC, it would send a strong message of condemnation against the violence and support for the persecuted communities. For the sake of Nigeria’s future and regional stability, decisive action cannot be delayed.
