Jacob McGee, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US Bureau ofDemocracy, Human Rights and Labour, has defended the designation of Nigeria asa Country of Particular Concern, CPC, under the administration of PresidentDonald Trump. McGee made the defence on Thursday during a public hearingof the US Congress on Nigeria’s CPC status. He cited the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel, a student ofShehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, who was lynched by a mob afterbeing accused of blasphemy. “Her murderers remain free,” McGee said, describing theincident as part of a troubling pattern of abuses, torture, disappearances andextrajudicial killings linked to blasphemy accusations. Terrorism conviction: Nnamdi Kanu lawyer, Ejimakor revealsnext step after life imprisonmentMcGee said the US “stands ready to champion the rights ofChristians,” stressing that the annual International Religious Freedom, IRF,reports consistently document severe violations in Nigeria. He noted that violence targeting Christiancommunities—particularly in the Middle Belt—has become alarming. According tohim, numerous testimonies confirm that attackers “used religious language” and“specifically targeted Christians for killing, abduction and rape.” The official also accused the Nigerian government of failingto protect religious leaders who speak out. He referenced Bishop Wilfred Anagbeand Father Remigius, who he said received threats instead of protection aftertestifying before US lawmakers last year. Court sentences Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment forterrorismMcGee further condemned Nigeria’s blasphemy laws, enforcedunder Sharia penal codes in 12 states, saying they violate free speech andplace the country among only eight worldwide where blasphemy can carry thedeath penalty. He warned that the US would continue to monitor religiousfreedom in Nigeria and “act until the Nigerian government protects vulnerableChristians and holds perpetrators accountable.” He said: “That the United States stands ready to championthe rights of Christians and protect them from religious persecution. Thereligious freedom situation in Nigeria is well documented in the annual IRFreports. The IRF act, designed by Congress nearly three decades ago,establishes religious freedom as a US foreign policy priority and mandates thatthe President call out religious freedom violators as a reflection of theimportance our nation places on America’s first freedom. “As my colleague stated, the levels of violence andatrocities committed against Christians in Nigeria are appalling, particularlyin the Middle Belt. These attacks directly target Christian populations. “Ample witness testimonies have confirmed attackers usedreligious language during their attacks and specifically targeted Christiansfor killing, abduction and rape. It is clear Nigerians are being attacked andkilled because of their faith, and the Nigerian government must uphold its dutyto protect them. “The United States stands with civil society and religiousactors brave enough to speak about the tragic violence and discrimination theyface in Nigeria. When Bishop Wilfred Anagbe and Father Remigius testifiedbefore Chairman Smith’s hearing last March about religious freedom, these twocourageous religious leaders reported they received threats rather thanprotection from the Nigerian government. “But the United States listened, and we will continue tolisten and act until the Nigerian government protects religious freedom,strengthens its protections for vulnerable Christians and upholds and holdsperpetrators accountable. “In addition to these failures, Nigerian officials alsocontinue to prosecute individuals for alleged blasphemy, which stands in clearviolation of Nigeria’s obligation to safeguard free speech under the Shariapenal codes enforced in 12 of its states. Nigeria is one of only eightcountries in the world that allows for penalties up to execution for blasphemy,along with Iran and Pakistan, which have long been designated CPCs. “When authorities detain individuals accused of blasphemy,the judicial process often takes years while they remain in prison, sometimeson death row. Mobs often take the law into their own hands with impunity. Forexample, in 2022 a mob killed Deborah Samuel Yakubu, a student of Shehu ShagariCollege of Education, Sokoto, in a heinous attack after she was accused ofblasphemy; this young Christian woman’s life was taken too soon, yet hermurderers remain free with horrifying reports of discrimination, abuse,torture, disappearance and even the murder of individuals.”
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