By Dennis Okechukwu
A coalition of advocacy, faith-based, and human rights organisations has urged stronger international action over rising violence against Christians in Nigeria, following a meeting with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
The End the Genocide of Nigerian Christians Coalition (USA) said it met with the commission and support its recommendation that Nigeria be redesignated a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for 2026, citing what it described as persistent religious persecution and escalating attacks.
In a statement released Tuesday, the coalition said the recommendation reflects conditions that have persisted for more than 15 years and were underscored by the recent killings in Ngoshe community in Borno State.
According to the group, more than 300 people were reportedly killed or abducted in the attack last week, describing it as a stark indication that insecurity in northern Nigeria continues to worsen.
The coalition also raised concerns about mass kidnappings and targeted killings across the region. It argued that recent funding cuts to U.S.-supported programmes had weakened early-warning systems and interfaith dialogue initiatives previously implemented in parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
While supporting the restoration of funding, the coalition said future assistance should focus on practical projects that directly support affected communities and victims of violence.
The group also endorsed a recommendation by USCIRF that countries designated as CPC should be prohibited from hiring lobbyists in the United States. It referenced reports that Nigeria had previously signed a lobbying contract worth about $9 million, arguing that governments facing sanctions should instead focus on improving conditions for their citizens.
The coalition further warned of a worsening refugee situation involving displaced residents from Gwoza, many of whom had fled to neighbouring Cameroon. It said about 120,000 refugees remain displaced and that funding cuts affecting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have led to pressure on some refugees to return to unsafe communities.
According to the coalition, some victims of the Ngoshe attack had only recently returned from refugee camps in Cameroon after spending nearly a decade there.
Eyewitness accounts cited by the group indicate that many survivors fled again into nearby mountains and remain without shelter, food, or medical assistance.
The coalition called for urgent international intervention, including a halt to refugee returns to Nigeria and coordinated evacuation efforts by humanitarian agencies such as the International Organization for Migration and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
It also urged the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Borno State Government to work with international partners to deliver humanitarian assistance and strengthen security operations to protect vulnerable communities.
Coalition members said they would provide USCIRF with verified casualty data and assessments of U.S.-funded programmes they believe require reform to better address the crisis.
The signatories to the statement include Save the Persecuted Christians, the U.S.-Nigeria Law Group, and the Christian Association of Nigerian Americans (CANAN), USA.