A Christian human rights advocacy organization is urging the U.S. government to officially recognize the severe persecution faced by Christians in Nigeria. The report by International Christian Concern (ICC), titled “A Case for Nigeria’s Country of Particular Concern Status,” highlights various forms of religiously-motivated violence, including kidnappings, torture, sexual assault, forced marriages, and blasphemy laws.
ICC's July report calls for the U.S. Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to its severe violations of religious freedom. This designation is reserved for nations that either tolerate or engage in significant human rights abuses, such as torture and unlawful detention.
The ICC report is based on direct observations from a staff visit to Nigeria in March 2023, along with extensive research and field data. It underscores a troubling decline in religious freedom in Nigeria over nearly two decades, particularly since the rise of Islamic terrorist groups in 2009. The report claims that over 50,000 Christians have been killed by extremist groups, highlighting the alarming lack of response from Western nations to what it describes as genocide.
The report details the involvement of various extremist groups in the violence. Boko Haram has been responsible for numerous attacks on Christian communities, including kidnapping 22,000 Christians and burning thousands of churches and schools. The Islamic State West Africa (IS-WA), a splinter group from Boko Haram, has continued this violence with high-profile attacks, including bombings that targeted Christian worshippers. The Fulani extremists, traditionally nomadic herders, have also committed significant violence against Christians, including the recent deadly attacks on Christmas Eve 2023.
The Nigerian government's inadequate response to these threats is also criticized in the report. For instance, security forces reportedly ignored multiple distress calls warning of impending attacks. Additionally, the report highlights issues with Nigerian laws, such as blasphemy laws in twelve states that contradict the national constitution and lead to severe punishments.
The report points out that despite recommendations from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) since 2009, Nigeria has not been consistently designated as a Country of Particular Concern. Although Nigeria was designated as such in 2020, the designation was revoked in 2021. ICC accuses successive U.S. administrations of politicizing these designations rather than using them to promote religious freedom.
To address these issues, the ICC report recommends that the U.S. appoint an ambassador to Nigeria, establish a special envoy to monitor the situation, and review U.S. aid to Nigeria. It also urges the U.S. to clearly acknowledge and address the true nature of the violence, rather than attributing it to factors like climate change or local conflicts.
The report argues that the U.S.'s failure to hold Nigeria accountable has allowed the Nigerian government to operate without restraint, perpetuating violence and state-level persecution, particularly against Christians. The ongoing conflict is undermining Nigeria's stability, national security, and economic well-being.