•Defends blacklist of Nigeria over lack of religious freedom



United States has expressed concern over what it described as lack of adequate government response to the expansion of terrorists activities in Nigeria.

In a special press briefing via teleconference, US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Samuel D. Brownback said  terrorism continues to happen and grow, in some places unabated, noting that the Federal Government’s  response has been minimal to not happening at all. Brown made the assertion after he was asked to comment on President Muhamadu Buhari’s response to the fight against insurgency in Nigeria.

His words: “… A major concern for us is the lack of adequate government response in Nigeria.  You’ve got expanded terrorist activities, you’ve got a lot of it associated around religious affiliations, and the government’s response has been minimal to not happening at all.  A number of cases . . . there have not been criminal cases brought forward by the government.  The terrorism continues to happen and grow, in some places unabated.”

Brown said the US do not want Nigeria to to devolve into a very difficult, lawless terrain in places.

“And the government really needs to act.  He was however quick to say the U.S. government was ready to assist Nigeria to eradicate insurgency.

“We stand ready to work with them.  I have traveled there, spent a week.  Key officials from State Department have been there and have been talking with the government and getting an inadequate response.”

Brown also gave reason why Nigeria was added to religious freedom blacklist even as the Federal Government described the action as “a case of honest disagreement between the two nations on the causes of violence in Nigeria.”

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had said “Nigeria does not engage in religious freedom violation, neither does it have a policy of religious persecution,” adding that “victims of insecurity and terrorism in the country are adherents of Christianity, Islam and other religions.”

But in what appears to be a rebuff of Mohammed’s claims, Brown said the U.S. government added Nigeria because of tolerating egregious acts taking place in that nation.

Highlighting the degree of violation of religious freedom in Nigeria, the ambassador said not only the US but the world has great concern about what’s taking place in Nigeria at this time.

He warned that a number of terrorist groups were organising and pushing into the country.

“We’re seeing a lot of religious-tinged violence taking place in that country and indeed in West Africa.  It’s an area of growing concern about what’s happening, in particular the tension that’s taking place there between religious groups.  And it’s often the religious affiliation is used to try to recruit and inspire violent acts.”


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His words: “… A major concern for us is the lack of adequate government response in Nigeria.  You’ve got expanded terrorist activities, you’ve got a lot of it associated around religious affiliations, and the government’s response has been minimal to not happening at all.  A number of cases . . . there have not been criminal cases brought forward by the government.  The terrorism continues to happen and grow, in some places unabated.”

To help explain this statement more, here's what to think about ...

How many times has the federal government prosecuted Fulani herdsmen who kill and sack farmers, mostly Christians?

In fact, it is an open secret in Nigeria that such groups are untouchable, and their leaders in Miyetti Allah speak with the voice of gods in Nigeria. They say things that no other groups can say, openly, and are never bothered by the security agencies.

Just yesterday, Professor Ango Abdullah singled out Igbo, inciting Northern youths against them, for absolutely no reason. He said that most violence against Northerners outside of the North are perpetrated by the Igbo more than any other group in Nigeria. But the truth is that the Northern jihadists have singled out the Igbo and targeted them for killings since 1945! As a matter of fact, the Igbo have died in the hands of Northern elements more than any other group in Nigeria. As many as 5 million of them died between 1966 and 1970.

The only "crime" committed by Igbo is the crime of being 98% Christian in a Nigeria where Islamist have a dream of "dipping the Quran into the Altantic".

All the plans to exterminate the Igbo has been as a consequence for their being overwhelmingly Christian.
This is the truth.

Imagine, for example, if Boko Haram were to be a Christian militia. Is Nigeria saying that they would not have since been crushed?

IPOB members are gunned down with impunity in Nigeria just for being IPOB, an unarmed group. Yet, Miyetti Allah openly threaten states and regions, and nobody bothers them.

Nigeria is systemically steeply skewed towards suppression of non-Muslim groups in the country, while treating Islamic groups (particularly Sunni groups) with kids gloves.
This is the truth!
It can change, but it hasn't yet.
And until it changes, the international community will sustain its scrutiny of Nigeria until such change happens.