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The United States Commission on the Freedom of International Religion (Uscirf) has charged the government at all levels in Nigeria to tolerate the attacks of violence against Christians by non-state actors.
In his latest report released on Wednesday, Uscirf said the federal government and state had not carried out enough to prevent attacks on Christians by militant religious groups in many parts of the country.
The report noted that various militant groups, including Islamic extremists and Fulani militants, continued to target religious communities throughout Nigeria with destroying consequences.
The commission also called for the redesign of Boko Haram and the Islamic State in the West African Province (ISWAP), also known as ISIS-West Africa, as a special concern (EPC), along with six other groups: Al-Shabaab-Music-Saham (HOSR), Houthis, Al-Shabaab-Samion Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), The Houttis, The Houttis, Islamic-Samic (HOSR), Houthis, Al-Shabaab-Samion Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), The Houttis, The Houttis, Islamic-Samic (HOSR), Houthis, Al-Shabaab-Samion Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), The Houttis, The Houttis, Islamic-Samic (Hosr) SA-Sham (HTSP), The Houttis, The Houttis, The Houttis, Islam (JNIM).
The statement reads: “In 2024, the condition of religious freedom in Nigeria remained poor. The federal government and state continued to tolerate attacks or failed to respond to acts of violence by non -state actors who justify their violence for religious reasons.
“These actors include Jama’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad (JAS, also known as Boko Haram) and West African Province Islamic State (ISWAP).
“The bandit group also participated in attacks on the religious community as well. The cruel Islamic groups and some Fulani militants seemed to force the interpretation of a single Islam on individuals and communities in their fields of operations, regardless of the religion or belief of these people or the community itself.”
The report also highlighted the specific incident of attacks that were motivated in religion in Nigeria.
“There were a number of specific violent incidents that were motivated in religion in 2024. In January, members who were suspected of the rebel group of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) killed 14 people in the state of Yobe, including a local priest from the Church of Christ in Nigeria.
Also read: Islamic Group Slamming Benue Bishop for Alleged Spread of falseism about the killing of Christians
“In May, Ansaru armed people affiliated with Al-Qaeda reportedly kidnapped 160 Christians and killed eight people in the state of Niger before releasing children.
“The attacker of the West African Province (ISWAP) of the Islamic State is also reported to execute three Christians and share pictures of online executions.
“In November, the Lakurawa group, who tried to impose their interpretation of sharia law -allegedly killed 15 people in the state of Kebbi. In May, the bandit killed at least 49 people in the state of Zamfara, including a Muslim Imam, and in the state of Niger, who was suspected of the bandits who killed 10 farmers, including Christians.
The report estimates that around 30,000 Bandit Fulani operates in several groups northwest of Nigeria, each consisting of 10 to 1,000 members.
“The bandits have been accused of disproportionate targeting the Christian community and disrupting food production through violent attacks and extractic” taxation “campaigns which mainly sacrificed Christian farmers.
“In January, bandits attacked school buses in the state of Ekiti and kidnapped five students from Emure’s Apostolic Elementary School. In June, a Catholic priest in the state of Zamfara was kidnapped and then released after the police were reported to pay their ransom.
“In August, Bandit kidnapped at least 20 students, including Christians, who traveled to a convention in the state of Benue. In October, armed men kidnapped a Catholic priest in the state of Edo after he offered himself as a substitute for two students from the conception of seminary schools,” he said.
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