Religious Freedom Violation: Why We Blacklisted Nigeria – US

The United States has disclosed reasons behind its decision to blacklist Nigeria over purported religious freedom violations.

Citynews Nigeria had reported how the US designated Nigeria and nine others as countries with troubling and worrisome religious freedom record.

The development came after years of monitoring the situation of things in Nigeria which prompted its addition on list of countries that allegedly condone violations of religious freedom.

Subsequently, the Nigerian government repudiated the designation, saying no one in the country is being persecuted for their religious beliefs or whatever reason, adding that the constitutional right of citizens to practice any religion of their choice is being upheld and not violated.

But speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Samuel Brownback, US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, said Nigeria finds itself among the blacklisted nations because of its inability to stem the tide of lingering terrorism.

Brownback averred that Nigeria has been turning a blind eye to diabolical acts taking place, adding that terrorism has continued to grow in some part of the country unrestrained.

Brownback said there’s been a lot of religion-induced insurgency activities with little or no government effort to address the situation

“The secretary and really the world has great concern about what’s taking place in Nigeria at this time, and a number of terrorist groups are organizing and pushing into the country,” he said during the briefing.

“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.

“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,” he said.

“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.”