United States congressional panels are holding a joint hearing today on global religious freedom, with witnesses warning that Nigeria is at risk of sliding into widespread Christian–Muslim violence.
Written testimonies submitted ahead of the session, titled “Defending Religious Freedom Around the World,” identify Nigeria as a major global flashpoint due to recurring killings, displacement and insecurity linked to religious identity.
Former US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, described Nigeria as “the deadliest place on the planet to be a Christian,” warning that signs of a broader religious conflict are emerging across the country and the wider African region.
Brownback also cautioned that foreign involvement in Nigeria’s security sector could worsen instability if not carefully monitored.
Former US Commission on International Religious Freedom chair, Dr Stephen Schneck, said freedom of religion is in a “historic crisis” globally, citing Nigeria, Syria and Sudan as countries where weak governance has enabled violence against faith communities.
Schneck criticised the US government for failing to take sustained action under the International Religious Freedom Act and warned against focusing advocacy on Christians alone, stressing that international religious freedom protections apply to all faiths.
Nigeria remains designated by the US as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious freedom violations, a label the Nigerian government continues to reject, insisting insecurity affects all citizens regardless of religion.
