US Insists Nigeria Must Remain Country of Particular Concern over ‘Christian Genocide’

The United States government has maintained that Nigeria should retain its designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing continued attacks on Christian communities and what it considers inadequate progress in protecting vulnerable populations.

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, stated this on Thursday during a congressional hearing on violence in Nigeria.

Garcia was responding to questions from US Congressman Riley Moore, who sought clarification on efforts to dismantle militia camps and kidnapping networks in the Middle Belt, particularly in Benue and Plateau states.

Moore also questioned the exclusion of the two states from the forest guard initiative and delays in deploying 1,000 previously approved guards to Plateau State. He maintained that Nigeria should not lose its CPC designation while the security concerns remained unresolved.

In his response, Garcia acknowledged that attacks had continued despite efforts by the Nigerian government and its international partners. He said Nigeria was taking steps to address the situation, but the measures had yet to produce the desired results.

The US official also noted that the country’s security capabilities were still being developed and that the deployment of personnel was progressing more slowly than expected. He specifically mentioned continued violence in Kaduna and Plateau states.

Garcia disclosed that the United States had supported Nigeria through police training, the provision of equipment, increased intelligence sharing and collaboration with Nigerian financial institutions to disrupt terrorist financing.

He added that Washington would sustain diplomatic discussions and security cooperation with Nigeria, with the aim of protecting vulnerable communities and ensuring accountability for attacks.

However, the Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected allegations of a Christian genocide or a campaign of targeted religious persecution. It maintains that insecurity affects people of different religious backgrounds across the country.