The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has indicted governments at all levels in Nigeria of tolerating violent attacks against Christians by non-state actors.
In its latest report released on Wednesday, the USCIRF said the Federal and state governments have not done enough to discourage attacks on Christians by militant religious groups in many parts of the country.
The report noted that various militant groups, including Islamist extremists and Fulani militants, have continuously targeted religious communities across Nigeria with devastating consequences.
The commission also called for the redesignation of Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), also known as ISIS-West Africa, as Entities of Particular Concern (EPCs), alongside six other groups: al-Shabaab, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Houthis, Islamic State – Sahel Province (ISSP), and Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM).
The statement read: “In 2024, the conditions for religious freedom in Nigeria remained poor. Federal and state governments continued to tolerate attacks or fail to respond to violent actions by nonstate actors who justify their violence on religious grounds.
“These actors include Jama’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS, also known as Boko Haram) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
“Bandit groups also participated in attacks against religious communities as well. Violent Islamist groups and some Fulani militants sought to impose a singular interpretation of Islam on individuals and communities in their areas of operation, regardless of these individuals’ or communities’ own religion or belief.”
The report also highlighted specific incidents of religiously motivated attacks in Nigeria.
“There were several specific incidents of religiously motivated violence in 2024. In January, suspected members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) insurgent group killed 14 people in Yobe State, including a local pastor from the Church of Christ in Nigeria.
“In May, al-Qaeda-affiliated Ansaru gunmen reportedly kidnapped 160 mainly Christian children and killed eight people in Niger State before later releasing the children.
“Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) assailants also reportedly executed three Christians and shared images of the executions online.
“In November, the Lakurawa group, seeking to impose their interpretation of Shari’a law — allegedly killed 15 people in Kebbi State. In May, bandits killed at least 49 people in Zamfara State, including a Muslim imam, and in Niger State, suspected bandits killed 10 farmers, including Christians. In August, bandits reportedly killed 70 Christians and kidnapped 20 students in separate attacks in Benue State,” it said.
The report estimated that around 30,000 Fulani bandits operate in several groups in North-West Nigeria, each consisting of anywhere from 10 to 1,000 members.
“These bandits have been accused of disproportionately targeting Christian communities and disrupting food production through violent raids and extralegal “taxation” campaigns that primarily victimise Christian farmers.
“In January, bandits attacked a school bus in Ekiti State and abducted five students from the Emure Apostolic Faith Primary School. In June, a Catholic priest in Zamfara State was kidnapped and later released after police reportedly paid his ransom.
“In August, bandits kidnapped at least 20 students, including Christians, who were traveling to a convention in Benue State. In October, gunmen abducted a Catholic priest in Edo State after he offered himself in place of two students from the Conception Minor Seminary School,” it stated.
