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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has called on the Trump administration to appoint a Special Envoy for Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin to address religious freedom violations and atrocity risks.
In its March 2025 report, USCIRF accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of failing to curb religiously motivated violence by extremist groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani militants. The report highlighted attacks on religious communities, blasphemy prosecutions, and state-led restrictions on indigenous religious practices.
The commission urged the U.S. to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) alongside nations like Afghanistan, India, and Vietnam. It also called for the redesignation of Boko Haram and ISWAP as Entities of Particular Concern (EPCs).
The report documented several violent incidents in 2024, including the killing of a pastor in Yobe, the execution of Christians by ISWAP, mass kidnappings in Niger State, and deadly attacks in Benue, Kebbi, and Zamfara.
USCIRF criticized Nigeria’s security response, stating that authorities often failed to protect vulnerable religious communities, with an estimated 30,000 armed Fulani bandits operating across the northwest.
The report raises serious concerns about religious persecution and the Nigerian government’s role in protecting fundamental rights.
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