The United States has expressed concern over its perceived persistent attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria and warned that the January 2027 general election could trigger further violence, pledging to monitor the electoral process closely.
The US State Department said violence against Christians remained a major concern, a year after President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged violations of religious freedom.
Reuters quoted Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, to have disclosed this while testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa during a congressional hearing on violence in Nigeria on Thursday.
Garcia described the forthcoming election as one of the challenges confronting efforts to address the country’s security crisis, warning that political tensions could escalate into violence.
“I am realistic about the challenges ahead. For example, Nigeria will hold presidential elections in January, which could spur violence,” he said.
He also identified the overstretched security architecture, limited judicial reach into the Middle Belt and inadequate resources available to tackle the crisis as major constraints.
On the continued attacks on Christian communities, Garcia said Washington was treating the matter as a priority and working with Nigerian authorities to address the violence and ensure that perpetrators were held accountable.
“Unfortunately, the violence has not stopped,” he said.
He explained that the US was engaging the Nigerian government through a Joint Working Group established after the CPC designation, with discussions focusing on increased security deployments, timely responses to early warnings, accountability for perpetrators and stronger military cooperation.
Garcia said the Nigerian government had taken steps, including deploying forest guards and increasing arrests and prosecutions, but these measures had yet to improve safety for Christian communities in the Middle Belt.
He added that Washington expected Nigeria to demonstrate measurable progress in protecting vulnerable communities and addressing the attacks, while pledging continued diplomatic and security cooperation.
During the hearing, US Congressman Riley Moore called for sustained scrutiny of Nigeria’s security response and the forthcoming election, particularly against the backdrop of reported attacks in Plateau State.
Questioning the State Department’s response to the violence, Moore said: “What is the (State) Department doing to make sure the Nigerian government brings the fight to the militias where Christians are dying? And before you answer that, we cannot take this CPC designation off this country. They have not done enough.”
He also urged Washington to pay close attention to the electoral process.
“We need to be watching these presidential elections like a hawk. And I’m gonna be watching them, and we all need to be watching them,” Moore said.
Responding, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Riley Barnes, said the department was already monitoring the election through a dedicated team responsible for tracking electoral processes across the world.
He described Nigeria’s election as a high-priority exercise and assured lawmakers that developments would be followed closely.
“I’m glad you raised that. We’re also tracking them closely. We have a team that, in my bureau, focuses on elections in many spots around the world, especially high-priority ones like this one. So we’re gonna be watching it very closely as well,” Barnes said.
Trump had threatened military action against Nigeria last November over the treatment of Christians, following the CPC designation. The Nigerian government rejected the classification, describing it as based on misinformation and faulty data.
Nigerian leaders have maintained that the country is battling terrorism and other security threats rather than religious persecution. They have also indicated willingness to accept US assistance in combating Islamist insurgents, provided Nigeria’s territorial integrity is respected.
Nigeria is grappling with an Islamist insurgency, banditry, farmer-herder clashes and kidnapping for ransom, particularly in its northern and central regions. The country is home to more than 200 ethnic groups practising Christianity, Islam and traditional religions, and has experienced sporadic violence linked to ethnic tensions and competition over scarce resources.
Insecurity remains a major issue ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Sunday Ehigiator with agency report
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