The United States has restated its resolve to tackle militant groups and what it describes as religiously driven intolerance in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
This position was outlined in a statement from the US Department of State, quoting President Donald Trump, and circulated on the social media platform X.
According to Trump, his administration is directly confronting what he described as militant and deeply intolerant efforts aimed at pushing religious believers out of public life and broader society.
The statement comes amid a fresh wave of deadly attacks in Nigeria, particularly in the North-Central region, where armed groups have carried out violent raids on rural communities in recent weeks, further straining the country’s security situation.
In Kwara State, gunmen earlier this month reportedly attacked several villages, killing residents, torching homes, and displacing families. Authorities said the attackers struck in the early hours, firing indiscriminately before burning houses and fleeing the area. Security personnel were later deployed as survivors escaped to nearby communities.
Plateau State has also continued to experience violence despite ongoing military operations. Recent assaults on farming communities reportedly claimed dozens of lives, according to local officials and community sources.
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These killings are part of a long-running cycle of violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, often linked to armed groups taking advantage of disputes over land ownership, grazing routes, and local governance. Analysts note that religious identity frequently intensifies these conflicts.
Nigeria is grappling with multiple security challenges, including the Boko Haram insurgency and its Islamic State-linked faction in the northeast, widespread banditry in the northwest and parts of the central region, as well as recurring communal clashes across several states.
While some attacks are portrayed in religious terms, experts argue that the root causes are multifaceted, ranging from poverty and competition over limited resources to weak state presence and governance shortcomings.
During Trump’s presidency, the United States adopted a firmer stance on Nigeria over concerns about religious freedom, at one point designating the country as a Country of Particular Concern. Nigerian authorities rejected the label, insisting the violence is not state-sponsored and affects people of all faiths.
Despite periods of diplomatic strain, security cooperation between the US and Nigeria has continued, including intelligence sharing, training, and limited support aimed at weakening militant networks. US officials have consistently said their involvement is focused on counterterrorism assistance and civilian protection, rather than direct combat roles.
