…Christian genocide claims break up US Congress
…As Nigeria deepens diplomatic push
… ‘Rising criticism could derail Tinubu’s financial reforms’
Three weeks after US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Nation of Specific Concern (CPC) and threatened to enter the nation “guns-a-blazing” over what he described as a Christian genocide, Nigeria is witnessing a chilling escalation of violence that cuts throughout states, religions, and communities.
Moderately than deter terrorists, the rhetoric seems to have coincided with, and within the eyes of some specialists, infected, a surge in assaults from terror teams, bandits, and armed militias who proceed to function with lethal effectivity throughout the nation’s northern area.
A violent week in Nigeria
The previous week alone underlined the deepening insecurity. In Borno State, a army convoy led by Brigade Commander M. Uba was ambushed by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters alongside the Damboa–Biu axis. Uba was captured and later executed, an assault that shocked safety circles given its boldness and the seniority of the sufferer.
Two days later in Kebbi State, terrorists stormed Authorities Ladies Complete Secondary Faculty in Maga round 4am, abducting 25 schoolgirls and killing the varsity safety chief.
On Tuesday, gunmen attacked a church in Eruku, Kwara State, kidnapping dozens of worshippers. By Friday, a Catholic faculty in Niger State was additionally hit, with a number of college students taken.
For a rustic already fatigued by a decade of insurgencies, these assaults underscore the widening attain of violent teams working with little regard for borderlines or official threats, whether or not overseas or home.
Learn additionally: Angry Trump insists Nigerian govt not doing enough
Diplomatic warmth rises as Nigeria faces its bloodiest week in months
Amid the violence, the Nigerian authorities deepened diplomatic engagement with US authorities, determined to counter the mounting narrative in Washington that Nigeria is experiencing a Christian genocide.
On Wednesday, US Congressman Riley Moore, one of the vital vocal proponents of the genocide declare, met with a Nigerian delegation led by Nuhu Ribadu, the nationwide safety adviser, in Washington.
Moore described the assembly as a “frank, trustworthy, and productive dialogue” specializing in alleged persecution of Christians and enduring terrorist threats. Nigeria, he mentioned, raised considerations about safety help and safety of susceptible communities.
Ribadu on Friday additionally met with Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Warfare. Hegseth in a put up on X mentioned the Trump’s administration is working aggressively with Nigeria to finish the persecution of Christians within the nation.
The CPC designation, reinstated by Trump, has resurrected a fierce debate within the US Congress, one the place hardline non secular freedom advocates conflict with diplomats, analysts, and lawmakers who warn that oversimplifying Nigeria’s battle might worsen the violence.
Violence impacts everybody – US Rep. Sara Jacobs
The divide sharpened on Thursday throughout a heated U.S. congressional listening to.
Rep. Sara Jacobs, a former adviser on US counter-Boko Haram technique, pushed again towards makes an attempt to forged Nigeria’s disaster as solely a Christian persecution.
“There’s very actual battle and violence that we have to handle… The violence impacting each Christian and Muslim communities is actual,” she mentioned.
Referring to current assaults, she added: “The victims within the Kebbi State kidnapping had been all Muslim women. So, violence impacts everybody.”
Jacobs warned that “false narratives perpetuate dangerous stereotypes” and condemned Trump’s threats of army intervention.
“President Trump’s menace is reckless. Any unilateral army motion in Nigeria can be unlawful,” she mentioned.
State Division disagrees: ‘Christians are being attacked due to their religion’
However inside the identical listening to, the State Division held a firmer line. Jacob McGee, deputy assistant secretary within the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, insisted that faith-based assaults, notably within the Center Belt, had been actual and effectively documented.
“These assaults straight goal Christian populations… attackers used non secular language and particularly focused Christians for killing, abduction, and rape.” He cited the 2022 homicide of Deborah Samuel as proof of systemic non secular freedom violations.
Simplistic narratives’ overshadow Nigeria’s actual drivers of violence – Jayapal
Rep. Pramila Jayapal issued one of many strongest rebuttals to the genocide narrative.
“The killings in Nigeria aren’t simply the persecution of Christians. It’s the persecution of a number of teams… that might be simplistic,” she argued.
Her argument displays the view shared by battle researchers: Nigeria’s violence is a tangled net of banditry, farmer–herder tensions, useful resource clashes, non secular extremism, and weak state response, not one dominated by a single motive.
Learn additionally: One week of agony, tears and trepidation in Nigeria
Tinubu’s authorities just isn’t doing sufficient – Huizenga
Congressman Invoice Huizenga accused the Nigerian authorities of failing in its duties. “Tinubu’s authorities is sitting again, not doing sufficient,” the US lawmaker mentioned, combating again tears.
Huizenga, who helps the CPC redesignation, insisted Christian communities stay susceptible and urged stronger US motion.
Again CPC designation with actual motion – Catholic Bishop tells Trump
Whereas giving his testimony on the US Congress on Thursday, Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Wilfred Anagbe, urged President Donald Trump to again the redesignation of Nigeria as CPC with concrete motion.
“On behalf of tens of millions of Christians in Nigeria and within the diaspora, we need to thank President Donald Trump for his daring management in designating Nigeria as a CPC. I commend you and this subcommittee for ongoing efforts on this matter.
“It’s a important step, however should be backed by severe motion. One, use the Magnitsky Act for focused sanctions towards Nigerian authorities officers and others tolerating or condoning Islamic violence within the nation,” Anagbe mentioned.
Trump’s army motion will endanger Christians – Oge Onubogu
Oge Onubogu, senior fellow and director, Africa Program, Centre for Strategic and Worldwide Research (CSIS), warned the US towards army motion in Nigeria, saying that it might endanger Christians it goals to guard.
“If the Trump administration proceeds with unilateral army motion in Nigeria, it might endanger the Christians it goals to guard and worsen divisions alongside non secular strains,” Onubogu mentioned on the US Congress on Thursday.
“A slim narrative that reduces Nigeria’s safety state of affairs to a single story and frames it solely because the persecution of Christians, oversimplifies the state of affairs,” she added.
The Nigerian authorities has repeatedly rejected claims of spiritual persecution, arguing that the battle is pushed by criminality, useful resource struggles, and opportunistic armed teams. However the US decision, now gaining momentum in Washington, locations new diplomatic stress on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to point out measurable progress in curbing assaults and defending susceptible communities.
Analysts additional warning that rising US criticism could jeopardise the Tinubu administration’s broad financial reforms, initiated in 2023 and now starting to yield seen features.
