**Nigerian Government Faces Renewed Allegations Over Christian Persecution Amid Rising Violence**
WASHINGTON — The Nigerian government is facing renewed allegations of complicity in the ongoing persecution of Christians in the country, following the Nigerian army’s dismissal of warnings about an imminent attack through a controversial social media post.
The issue took center stage during a special Summit on Ending Christian Persecution held by the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday. One of the key panel discussions focused on the violence plaguing Christian communities in Nigeria and the government’s alleged failure to respond effectively.
While Islamic extremist groups are present in Nigeria’s northeast, the majority of attacks targeting predominantly Christian communities occur in the agriculturally rich Middle Belt states. Here, radicalized Fulani herders are primarily responsible for much of the violence affecting local populations.
Watchdog groups estimate that thousands have been killed each year in Nigeria amid rising extremism. Debate continues among experts and diplomats regarding the role of religion in the conflict. Some argue the violence meets the standard for genocide, while others align with the Nigerian government’s stance, attributing the attacks to long-standing farmer-herder clashes dating back decades.
Sean Nelson, legal counsel for the nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom International, shared a troubling account at the summit. He recounted how a pastor from Plateau state warned government officials about “Fulani militants who are amassing right near villages” and predicted an imminent attack. The pastor had sent a message directly to the Nigerian army alerting them to the threat.
According to Nelson, the Nigerian army responded not with action but by publicly discrediting the pastor’s warning. The army posted a statement on its official X account on October 14 dismissing the alert as part of “a growing pattern of unsubstantiated claims by certain religious figures to whip sentiments in the Joint Operations Area (JOA).”
The army’s statement read:
*“The anonymity of the source and the sensational nature of the claim point to a coordinated narrative designed to erode public trust in security agencies. It is even more worrisome that some religious leaders, instead of promoting peace and community cooperation, appear to be leading a subtle campaign of misinformation against the security agencies working tirelessly to maintain order. This trend not only undermines public confidence but also jeopardizes ongoing peace-building efforts.”*
Shortly after the pastor’s warning and the army’s public rebuke, more than a dozen Christians were killed in a series of coordinated attacks, Nelson reported. There was no apology or apparent action taken by the Nigerian army following the violence.
Further details about the attacks were provided by the advocacy group International Christian Concern (ICC). The group described the incidents as coordinated assaults on multiple Christian villages within Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau state. Eyewitnesses from a mission center in Rawuru recounted how gunmen opened fire on residents gathered for evening prayers.
According to ICC:
*“Two members of the mission center were killed on the spot, while several others managed to escape into the nearby bushes. The attackers later advanced toward Tatu village, where ten additional people were killed in what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to terrorize Christians. In the Lawuru community, located a few miles away, two more residents were shot dead, and their livestock was taken by the assailants.”*
During the panel discussion, speakers repeatedly emphasized the urgent need for the Trump administration to reinstate Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC). This designation is reserved for the world’s worst violators of religious freedom and can trigger diplomatic consequences, including sanctions.
While the Trump administration designated Nigeria as a CPC toward the end of President Donald Trump’s first term, the Biden administration revoked the designation shortly after taking office in 2021.
Nelson highlighted how reinstating the CPC status could pressure Nigeria to more effectively address attacks targeting Christians. He described the designation as “absolutely vital because that’s what’s going to put pressure” on the Nigerian government.
“They value our economic relationship, they value the security assistance that we provide,” Nelson explained. “The government of Nigeria has mostly focused on terrorism in the Northeast, which is very important. They’ve not really been winning that battle recently.”
Nelson added: “They focused not one iota on the Middle Belt. They haven’t focused that much on the northwest. And so we need to tell them, you have to put those resources. When you get those early warnings, you need to go out and you need to find the terrorists and you need to defeat them.”
As violence continues to devastate Nigeria’s Christian communities, advocates urge stronger international and governmental actions to halt the bloodshed and restore peace.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/cpac-panel-calls-out-nigeria-for-violence-against-christians.html
