The United States is considering a sweeping response — including sanctions and Pentagon-led counterterrorism engagement — to push the Nigerian government to better protect Christian communities and uphold religious freedom, a senior U.S. State Department official told lawmakers on Thursday.
Jonathan Pratt, who leads the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, said the Trump administration is developing “a plan to incentivize and compel” Nigeria to improve security for targeted communities. The plan may involve actions by the State and Treasury Departments, as well as potential support from the Pentagon to help safeguard religious minorities.
Washington is closely re-evaluating the security assistance it provides Nigeria, particularly how Nigerian authorities deploy shared intelligence and military assets.
The heightened U.S. scrutiny follows President Donald Trump’s recent decision to re-list Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged violations of religious freedom. Trump has also threatened “fast” U.S. military action if Nigeria fails to curb attacks on Christians and announced an immediate halt to U.S. aid to Abuja.
Nigeria, however, maintains that claims of Christian persecution oversimplify its complex security challenges, which include farmer–herder clashes, ethnic tensions, and the long-running Boko Haram insurgency — an extremist campaign that has killed tens of thousands of Nigerians, many of them Muslims.
In an effort to ease tensions with Washington, President Bola Tinubu dispatched a high-level security delegation to the United States. The team — including Nigeria’s national security adviser, defense chief, intelligence chief, and police leadership — is meeting with senior U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.
Pratt told Congress he does not believe Nigeria’s government has been infiltrated by jihadists, but emphasized that stronger action is needed to protect vulnerable communities.
Jacob McGee, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, said Nigeria’s new religious-freedom designation has sent a strong message. But he noted that “a lot more needs to be done,” adding that the U.S. plans expanded diplomatic engagement to ensure Nigerian authorities “hear our very important message that they have to do better.”
Credit: Reuters
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