The United States Department of State has reiterated its concerns over continued violence against Christian communities in Nigeria, one year after the Donald Trump administration designated the country a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged violations of religious freedom.
Speaking before a congressional panel on Thursday, November 12, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, said Washington considers the protection of Christian communities a major priority and is working with Nigerian authorities to address the situation and ensure those responsible for the attacks are held accountable.
Garcia, however, noted that the violence had continued despite the diplomatic engagements, stating that attacks against Christian communities had not stopped.
In October 2025, President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern and threatened possible military action over the treatment of Christians in the country. The Nigerian government rejected the designation, describing it as a decision based on inaccurate information and faulty data.
Nigeria’s Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the latest developments.
Meanwhile, Nigerian authorities have previously maintained that the country’s security challenges are primarily linked to terrorism rather than the persecution of Christians. They have also expressed willingness to receive American assistance in tackling Islamist insurgents, provided Nigeria’s territorial sovereignty is respected.
INSECURITY AHEAD OF 2027 ELECTIONS
With Nigeria’s presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, insecurity has become a major issue in the country’s political discussions.
The country continues to battle multiple security threats, including Islamist insurgency, banditry, farmer-herder clashes across parts of the North and kidnappings for ransom in the southern regions.
US Assistant Secretary of State Riley Barnes disclosed that Nigeria had taken several steps following its CPC designation, including recruiting additional police personnel, deploying forest guards and increasing arrests and prosecutions.
However, he said these measures had yet to translate into improved security for Christian communities in the Middle Belt.
Also speaking on the situation, US Representative Riley Moore, a Republican from West Virginia, drew attention to the reported increase in attacks against Christians in Plateau State.
He questioned what further steps the US State Department was taking to ensure the Nigerian government confronted armed militias responsible for attacks in communities where Christians had been killed. Moore also argued that Nigeria should not be removed from the CPC list, insisting that the country’s response had been insufficient.
Nigeria has more than 200 ethnic groups and is home to people practising Christianity, Islam and traditional religions. Although the country has a history of religious coexistence, it continues to experience periodic violence linked to ethnic tensions and competition over scarce resources.
Source: Reuters, November 13, 2026.