US officers say violence in opposition to Christians persists in Nigeria one yr after Country of Particular Concern designation

News

By Linda Ikeji
14 November 2026, 9:37 am

US officers instructed Congress on Thursday, November 12, that violence in opposition to Christians in Nigeria had not abated, a yr after President Donald Trump once more designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” (CPC) over non secular freedom.

Chris Smith, chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, led a listening to to look at Nigeria’s response to assaults on susceptible communities because the designation. He described it as a “wake-up call for Nigeria” and urged the federal government to guard non secular believers, notably Christians, from assaults by armed teams together with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.

Riley Barnes, a US State Department official liable for democracy, human rights and labour, mentioned Nigeria had taken steps to curb the violence however that these efforts had but to enhance security for Christian communities within the Middle Belt. “There are still rising death tolls and kidnappings. So, I think we have this posture of trust but verify,” Barnes mentioned.

Frank Garcia, a State Department official liable for African affairs, mentioned the division had labored intently with Nigerian authorities to deal with assaults on Christian communities and maintain these accountable to account. He mentioned the violence had continued regardless of these efforts.

Republican Representative Riley Moore referred to as for the US to retain Nigeria’s designation and intently monitor the nation’s upcoming presidential election.

“We cannot take this CPC designation off this country. They have not done enough,” Moore mentioned. Smith mentioned Congress would take into account what additional measures had been wanted to curb the violence and forestall extra assaults on Christian communities in Nigeria.