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Terrorist Killings: US Senators Seek Re-Designation Of Nigeria As “Country Of Particular Concern”
A group of Republican Senators has written to the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging him to consider re-designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), citing what they described as “continued unchecked acts of violence and terrorism against religious minorities” in the country.
The lawmakers are alleging that the Christians are being subjected to massive violence in Nigeria.
The letter was signed by Senators Ted Budd, Josh Hawley, Pete Ricketts, Ted Cruz, and James Lankford.
In their letter, the Senators stated: “We write to urge you to consider designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) to give the President additional authority to take specific actions to address the continued unchecked acts of violence and terrorism against religious minorities perpetrated by nonstate actors in Nigeria.”
The lawmakers recalled that, “As you know, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo designated Nigeria as a CPC in December 20202, for the ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom perpetrated within its borders, particularly by nonstate actors such as Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.”
They also noted that, “While Secretary of State Antony Blinken removed Nigeria from the CPC list in 2021, on March 25, 2025, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended that Nigeria be placed once again on the CPC list, citing several incidents of violence and terrorism against religious minorities.”
The Senators referenced several deadly incidents in Nigeria, including mass killings and kidnappings targeting Christians.
“In May 2024, al-Qaeda-affiliated Ansaru gunmen reportedly kidnapped 160 mainly Christian children and killed eight people in Niger State but later released the abducted children…..in Niger State, suspected bandits killed 10 farmers, including Christians, and in August, bandits reportedly killed 70 Christians and kidnapped 20 students in separate attacks in Benue State.”
They added: “Most recently, in late June 2025, reports suggest that at least 200 Christians in Nigeria were brutally killed by terrorists in Benue state.”
“This same report suggests that Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be Christian, citing 3,100 of the 4,476 Christians killed during their reporting period lived in Nigeria.”
The Senators further referenced actions taken by former U.S. President Donald Trump to promote religious freedom, including an executive order establishing the Religious Liberty Commission.
“As you know, on May 1, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order to establish the Religious Liberty Commission with the intent for this commission to vigorously enforce the historic and robust protections for religious liberty enshrined in Federal law and to work with the White House Faith Office to partner with the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom to further the cause of religious liberty around the world’.”
They also recalled Trump’s 2019 global appeal at the United Nations: “On September 23, 2019, President Trump issued a global call to condemn religious persecution and defend the freedom of all believers stating that:
‘Today with one clear voice, the United States of America calls upon the nations of the world to end religious persecution.’”
“To stop crimes against people of faith, release prisoners of conscience, repeal laws restricting freedom of religion and belief…America stands with believers in every country who ask only for the freedom to live according to the faith that is within their own hearts?.”
Concluding their letter, the Senators expressed gratitude for Trump’s role in advancing religious liberty and urged Secretary Rubio to act decisively.
“We are grateful for President Trump and your work to champion our founding freedoms at home, as well as to condemn religious persecution around the world. We hope you will carefully consider designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). We look forward to hearing from you.”
Previously, SaharaReporters reported that United States expressed “deep concern” over persistent violence against Christians and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria, warning that the government in Abuja must take stronger action to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks.
This comes after American comedian Bill Maher drew attention to the rising number of Christians killed by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa.
In a statement to Newsweek, the US State Department confirmed it has repeatedly raised the issue with the Nigerian government at the highest levels.
“The United States remains deeply concerned about the levels of violence against Christians and members of other groups in Nigeria, including the threats posed by terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa in northern Nigeria. We have raised these issues with the Nigerian government at the highest levels,” the statement said.
The Department stressed that Nigeria must act more decisively to halt repeated attacks on religious communities, insisting that its laws must align with commitments to religious freedom.
International advocacy group Open Doors ranks Nigeria as the seventh most dangerous place in the world for Christians, noting that “more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined.”
The Nigerian government has dismissed reports suggesting that terrorists in Nigeria are carrying out a systematic genocide against Christians, describing such claims as “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.”
Halima Dangote, daughter of Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, has disclosed the long-term ambition of the Dangote family to grow the business empire founded by her father into a company valued at about $200 billion.
Halima made the disclosure while speaking about the responsibilities that come with being a member of one of Africa’s most prominent business families.
According to a report by GhanaWeb, she said the family’s ambition goes beyond preserving the wealth created by Aliko Dangote, stressing that the next generation is expected to build on his achievements and significantly expand the conglomerate.
She also challenged the perception that she and her siblings have had an easy life simply because they were born into a wealthy family.
According to her, being the children of a highly successful businessman comes with significant expectations, particularly the responsibility of protecting, managing and expanding the business built by their father.
The Dangote Group has evolved from its beginnings as a trading company into a diversified conglomerate with operations spanning several key sectors of the African economy.
Its businesses include cement manufacturing, fertiliser production, petroleum refining and petrochemicals, among other industrial activities.
One of the group’s biggest investments is the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which has expanded its operations and increased its processing capacity as it seeks to play a major role in meeting energy demand in Nigeria and beyond.
The conglomerate has also continued to pursue expansion across Africa, with investments aimed at strengthening its position in manufacturing and other strategic industries.
Halima’s comments underscore the role the younger generation of the Dangote family is expected to play in the future of the conglomerate.
Rather than simply inheriting the wealth accumulated by their father, the family is looking to expand the businesses and create an enterprise that operates on an even larger scale.
The proposed $200 billion valuation is a long-term ambition, not the current value of the Dangote Group. The target reflects the scale of growth the family hopes to achieve through expansion into new markets and increased investment in existing businesses.
Aliko Dangote has consistently pursued large-scale investments in sectors including refining, petrochemicals, fertiliser and cement, as part of his broader push to build globally competitive African businesses.
With the next generation increasingly involved in the family business, Halima’s remarks point to a long-term succession strategy focused not only on preserving the Dangote legacy but also on expanding its economic footprint.
The $200 billion ambition therefore represents the scale of the challenge facing the family’s younger generation as it seeks to sustain the conglomerate’s growth and build on the foundation laid by its founder.
…hails Gov Kefas, security agencies timely intervention
Senator representing Taraba Central, Haruna Manu, has appealed for calm and peaceful coexistence following the recent clash between Fulani and Mambilla communities in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Manu, in a statement personally signed by him, expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the violence and urged residents to put the incident behind them and embrace peace.
The clash reportedly occurred last Tuesday in Mbamga communities along the Nigeria-Cameroon border, leaving nine residents dead.
Reacting to the development, the senator called on his constituents and members of the affected communities to remain calm and avoid actions that could further escalate tensions.
“I want to appeal for understanding and plead with the families of the victims of the clash. This development is uncalled for, especially at this trying period for all and sundry,” Manu said.
He also commended Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, for what he described as his timely intervention in the crisis.
“I want to equally thank His Excellency, Dr Agbu Kefas, for his timely intervention to quickly nip the clash in the bud before it escalates,” he added.
The former Taraba Deputy Governor also praised security operatives for restoring peace to the communities.
Manu urged the various communities to continue to promote peaceful coexistence and work together to prevent a recurrence of violence in the area.
More than 6,000 members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The defectors, led by the NDC’s former Enugu State Contact and Mobilisation Coordinator, Godwin Obasi, were formally received into the PDP by the party’s state leadership in Enugu on Saturday.
The reported figure of more than 6,000 was given by the defectors’ leadership and has not been independently verified. �
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Obasi said the group comprised members drawn from all 260 electoral wards and 17 local government areas of the state.
He said they decided to leave the NDC following dissatisfaction with what he described as the party’s choice of unpopular candidates for various elective positions.
“We decided that we were going to join the PDP. It is our right and choice. So, after we congregated, we are here today to officially join the PDP.
“We are from all the 260 wards and 17 local government areas in the state, and all of us have moved into the PDP from today,” Obasi said.
Obasi had earlier been identified as the NDC’s state coordinator for contact and mobilisation in Enugu, where he was involved in building the party’s grassroots structure ahead of the 2027 elections. �
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Receiving the defectors, the Enugu State PDP Chairman, Vitus Okechi, welcomed their decision and assured them of equal rights and full participation in the affairs of the party.
Okechi said the new members would be integrated into the party’s structure and given opportunities to participate in its activities.
Also speaking, the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Uche Nnaji, assured the defectors of their full integration into the party.
Nnaji used the occasion to launch fresh criticism against the Enugu State Government, alleging that the administration had failed to fulfil some of its promises to residents.
He urged residents to participate actively in what he described as efforts to change the political direction of the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
Nnaji particularly criticised the state’s taxation policies, alleging that the government’s revenue drive was placing undue pressure on residents without corresponding benefits.
He further alleged that taxation had extended to newborn babies and deceased persons, while questioning the tangible impact of the revenue generated by the government.
On pensions and gratuities, Nnaji alleged that retirees in the state were being denied their entitlements.
“Our pensioners are not being paid. Enugu is the only place where pensions and gratuities are not being paid to our people.
“Nothing is paid to our people. Everybody is in a mess.
“Imo and Anambra pay their pensions and gratuities to date. What sin have we committed in Enugu State?” he asked.
Nnaji also claimed that the Enugu State Government had received substantially more federal funds under President Bola Tinubu than the three previous administrations combined.
He alleged that the funds received in about three years exceeded what the administrations of former governors Chimaroke Nnamani, Sullivan Chime and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi received during their combined 24 years in office.
“And President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has released so much money to all the states. What this government here has received is more than what the three previous governors, Chimaroke, Sullivan and Ugwuanyi put together.
“What they received in 24 years, this government has received in about three years. We are talking of trillions,” he said.
He also questioned the level of internally generated revenue reported by the Enugu State Government in 2025, alleging that the revenue collection had imposed additional hardship on residents.
The allegations made by Nnaji were political claims made during the defection event and were not independently verified in the reports reviewed. �
wazobiareportersng.com.ng
Meanwhile, PDP chieftain Basil Ani described the movement of the NDC members into the PDP as a boost to the party’s grassroots mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 elections.
The development comes as political parties in Enugu intensify grassroots mobilisation and positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dangote Family Targets $200bn Empire, Halima Reveals
Senator Manu Urges Calm After Fulani-Mambilla Clash, Condoles With Victims’ Families
2027: Over 6,000 NDC Members Dump Party, Join PDP in Enugu
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