More Than the CPC Designation is Needed as Violations on Religious Freedom in Nigeria Escalate

More Than the CPC Designation Is Needed as Violations on Religious Freedom in Nigeria Escalate 

Washington, DC – Nearly three weeks since President Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), there has been an escalation in violence, highlighting the relevance of the designation. USCIRF calls for the U.S. government to develop a robust plan with the Nigerian government to secure freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), hold perpetrators that violate religious freedom to account, and to support efforts to rescue those held captive because of their faith. 

“USCIRF strongly condemns the killings and kidnappings at the Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State,” said USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler. “It is imperative that the U.S. Government compel the Nigerian government to take immediate steps to prevent such attacks, allowing all Nigerians to safely attend religious services.”

The church attack came just days after bandits abducted 25 girls from a government boarding school in Kebbi State, serving as a stark reminder of the ongoing series of similar school attacks following the abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok in 2014 and 110 in Dapchi in 2018. Violent abductions have broadly plagued religious communities across Nigeria. Recently, gunmen seized over 100 individuals, mostly women and children, from a mosque in Zamfara State in August and three Muslim individuals at a mosque in Kwara State in September.

“Violent attacks against religious communities in Nigeria have become tragically commonplace, affecting Christians, Muslims, practitioners of traditional African religions, and others,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Asif Mahmood. “The Nigerian government has not adequately addressed the violence, resulting in a pervasive climate of fear that deters Nigerians of all religious backgrounds from openly practicing their faith.”  

USCIRF has recommended Nigeria for CPC designation since 2009 for engaging in and tolerating particularly severe religious freedom violations. USCIRF held a hearing in May on “Governance in Nigeria: A Foundation for Securing Freedom of Religion or Belief” and released a podcast episode in June on the impact of blasphemy laws on Nigerian society. In July, USCIRF published a comprehensive country update on religious freedom concerns in Nigeria.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].