US Fit Sanction, Pentagon Dey Plan To Protect Christians For Nigeria – Reuters

Di United States don dey reason strong actions like sanctions and Pentagon counterterrorism support as part of plan to force di Nigerian government make e protect Christian communities well-well and improve religious freedom. One senior U.S. State Department official talk say Nigeria dey under heavy scrutiny from President Donald Trump wey don threaten military action earlier dis month over how Christians dey treated for di country. Nigeria bin argue say claims of persecution no balance because di security wahala complex, and government dey try safeguard religious freedom. Jonathan Pratt, di official wey lead di State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, tell House Foreign Affairs Committee say di Trump administration dey develop one plan wey go “incentivize and compel” Nigeria to protect Christians, consider State and Treasury sanctions, and even Department of War counterterrorism engagement. Im add say Washington dey check how di Nigerian government dey use security support, dey share intelligence, and dey deploy dia assets.

Last month, Trump add Nigeria back to di “Countries of Particular Concern” list over alleged religious freedom violations, and even claim say im don order Defense Department to prepare for “fast” military action if Nigeria no stop killings of Christians. Trump talk say im don suspend all U.S. aid to Nigeria. Nigeria get more than 200 ethnic groups and long history of coexistence, even though violence dey flare up from ethnic and resource clashes, plus Boko Haram insurgency wey don kill tens of thousands, human rights experts even talk say more Muslims don die pass Christians. President Bola Tinubu don send im National Security Adviser and top security chiefs go Washington to meet Trump officials and lawmakers. One U.S. official talk anonymously say Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine go meet Nigeria’s NSA, while Pratt confirm say dem go also meet U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. Pratt talk say e no believe jihadists don infiltrate Nigeria’s government. Jacob McGee from U.S. State Department say listing Nigeria as “country of concern” don catch Nigeria government attention, but dem still need do more. E talk say U.S. dey plan more engagement on ground through embassies and visits to ensure Nigerians hear di message say dem must do better.