The US Congress has asked President Joe Biden to re-designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern (CPC) for violations of religious freedom.
According to news reports, Nigeria, which has the largest Christian population in Africa, was recognized as a CPC by the US Department of State in December 2020 owing to recurrent religious conflicts and attacks by the Boko Haram sect.
However, the Biden administration removed Nigeria from the list in November 2021.
US Re-Lists Nigeria As Country That Violates Religious Freedom
On Tuesday, US lawmakers introduced a resolution urging the State Department to reinstate Nigeria on the yearly CPC list.
According to Chris Smith, a delegate from New Jersey, Christians face the brunt of the persecution in Nigeria.
According to Smith, the decision to exclude Nigeria from the list was an “unjustified decision”, adding that the re-inclusion was a “necessary fight to protect victims of religious persecution”.
He said: “Last year alone, 5,014 Christians were killed in Nigeria — accounting for nearly 90% of Christian deaths worldwide as well [as] 90% of Christian kidnappings across the globe.
“The Biden administration must act immediately and redesignate Nigeria as a country of particular concern to mitigate this alarming and growing threat to religious liberty.”
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On his part, Arkansas representative, French Hill, said the removal of Nigeria from the list was a “political move” by Joe Biden.
Hill said: “In 2020, Nigeria was a country of particular concern (CPC). Despite little having changed in Nigeria’s treatment of religious freedom since then, the Biden Administration continues to leave Nigeria off the CPC list for political gain.
“This resolution sends an important message to the Biden administration and the government of Nigeria that the US Congress sees what is happening there and will continue to speak out against the ongoing violence and the government’s inadequate response.”
According to news accounts, the Christian community has been the subject of numerous targeted attacks by bandit terrorists.
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According to The Cable, in the year 2022, at least 39 Catholic priests were assassinated by gunmen and 30 more were abducted.
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