The 2024 annual report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has raised concerns over the ongoing violence against Christian worshippers in Nigeria, attributing a degree of tolerance to this violence from Bola Tinubu and state governors.
According to the report, which covers developments throughout 2023, the Nigerian government, both at federal and state levels, has struggled to accurately identify the perpetrators and motives behind attacks on Christian communities.
“The government, both federally and at the state level, continued to show tolerance towards severe criminal activities and violence by armed groups that specifically targeted religious communities, significantly impacting religious freedom,” stated USCIRF in its latest release on Wednesday. “Determining the exact perpetrators and motivations behind each attack remains a challenging task.”
The report highlighted several states where violence against Christians was particularly prevalent, including Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Adamawa, and Benue. For example, the report cited statistics from a Nigerian non-governmental organization, Intersociety, which claimed that in 2023 alone, 8,222 Christians lost their lives due to violence involving insurgent groups, armed gangs, and even Nigerian government forces.
Specific incidents were also detailed, such as extremists in Benue state causing the deaths of 414 individuals from Christian communities and the injury, rape, or kidnapping of over 100 others. Similarly, violent groups were responsible for the deaths of 450 Christians in northeastern states between May and June of that year.
Further incidents outlined in the USCIRF publication included the killing of at least 29 individuals, predominantly Christians, in Plateau State in June, followed later in the same month by the killing of 19 villagers, also including Christians, in Jos South and Mangu.
The report’s findings underscore a critical need for greater efforts to address and prevent violence against religious communities in Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of identifying and holding accountable those responsible for such atrocities.
“In September, bandits in Kaduna State attempted to kidnap a priest and then set fire to his home, killing Catholic seminarian Na’aman Danlami. In November, gunmen reportedly killed one person and kidnapped at least 150 people in Zamfara State for ransom.
“In Plateau State, assailants attacked Christian villages, killing over 190 people the weekend before Christmas, including Baptist minister Solomon Gushe and his family. Intersociety claimed that the coordinated Christmas week massacre was so deadly because of collusion between armed groups and government.”
USCIRF’s 2023 report paints a grim picture of religious freedom in Nigeria, highlighting its continued deterioration. Widespread violence across the country heavily impacted religious freedom, with the government failing to protect faith-based organizations and worshippers from attacks. Some even accuse the government of inciting such violence.
Further criticism arose from the government’s slow response to potential attacks and its lack of action after they occurred. Victims and their communities directly criticized the lack of accountability and demanded concrete steps to safeguard religious freedom.
Both the police and military faced criticism for their inability to curb the activities of violent groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani gangs, who often collaborated in targeting religious leaders throughout the year.
