Overview
- President Donald Trump restored Nigeria to the U.S. religious-freedom watchlist and warned of possible aid cuts, sanctions and even military action if killings of Christians continue.
- Nigeria’s Presidency rejected genocide claims and reported an 81% drop in terror deaths since 2015, citing hundreds of convictions, thousands of militants killed, mass surrenders, and millions of displaced people returning home.
- The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs dismissed genocide allegations as fabricated, while groups like the Igbo Women Assembly, some Christian leaders and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu welcomed U.S. pressure as a spur to stronger action.
- Local church figures in Plateau State expressed relief at renewed U.S. attention but said they oppose foreign troops entering Nigeria, describing repeated attacks by Fulani militants and pointing to Open Doors’ data on Christian killings.
- Reporting and experts highlight overlapping drivers including jihadist insurgency, banditry and resource conflicts that have harmed Muslims and Christians, with scholars cautioning that foreign intervention or sanctions could backfire.