Concern is rising over the future security of Christian communities in Nigeria after the United States indicated that further military action against Islamist militant groups may be considered.
Last year, US President Donald Trump said Nigeria would be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” due to the high number of Christians being killed for their faith. On Christmas Day, the United States carried out air strikes on militant bases in northern Nigeria with the approval of the Nigerian government.
Nigeria is roughly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims, yet more Christians are reported to be killed for their faith there than in any other country. Although precise figures are difficult to confirm, estimates suggest between 3,000 and 7,000 Christians were killed last year.
In an interview with the New York Times, President Trump suggested that further US military action may follow if the violence continues. He indicated that the earlier strike was not necessarily a one-off response.
Local Christian partners working with the religious freedom charity Release International have warned that the situation is likely to worsen. They report that extremist groups are expanding their operations, driven by hostility towards Christianity and the West, while government security measures remain weak. They also fear increased attacks from jihadist groups crossing into Nigeria from the wider Sahel region.
The Nigerian government says it is addressing the crisis but has faced criticism for failing to recognise the religious nature of many of the attacks. In November, President Bola Tinubu declared a national emergency and ordered police numbers to be doubled. However, he has also suggested that Christians and Muslims are both responsible for violence, a claim disputed by Christian leaders who say targeted attacks on Christians are the main pattern.
While not all violence in Nigeria is religiously motivated, recent bandit attacks have killed both Muslims and Christians, Christian communities remain the primary victims of organised extremist groups.
Observers note that political considerations influence the differing approaches of Washington and Abuja. President Trump has taken a strongly pro-Christian position, reflecting support from Christian voters in the United States, while President Tinubu governs a religiously divided nation and is cautious about appearing to favour one group over another.
