A human rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has asked the United States of America (USA) to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” until the Federal Government demonstrates a sincere willingness and ability to secure the citizenry, especially Christians and worship places, from marauding Jihadists.

It alleged the killing of about 54 people between August and September this year in various parts of the country by suspected Jihadists, stressing that unless something urgent and concrete is done to stop “Religious Genocide in Nigeria”, Christians, Christianity-affiliated others, and their indigenous cultural heritages are likely to be obliterated in the next 50 years.

“This will be so grave and dangerous that Christian children born today may not likely remain Christians or give birth to Christian children and affiliate others by 2075 or thereafter. We therefore renew our strong appeal for Nigeria to be designated by the USA as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’, and Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and Jihadist Fulani Bandits and enablers of their genocidal activities as ‘Entities of Particular Concern’, until the Nigerian Government demonstrates sincere willingness and ability to nip the issue in the bud, protect and safeguard Christians, Muslims, Traditionalists and Judaists and their sacred places of worship or learning; abolish ‘Muslim-Muslim Presidency’, and return Nigeria to ethnically, religiously, and culturally pluralistic governance and composition,” the group stated.

The group expressed disappointment that attacks on Christians and places of worship had continued about five years after the country was first designated a “Country of Particular Concern”, saying that the government refused to be deliberate in addressing the issue.

“It is shocking and saddening to note that instead of the Nigerian Government genuinely looking for a lasting solution or best ways to tackle the issue, including welcoming the international voices and seeking their understanding, cooperation and assistance where necessary, the Ahmed Bola Tinubu-led Government of Nigeria and the country’s federal bicameral legislature chose to resort to blanket denials, attacks, threats, and name-calling against those raising the concerns; even when most of them already have facts of the matter more than ten years ago through their close monitoring and data collection via primary and secondary sources,” it noted.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, and three human rights lawyers, Obianuju Igboeli, Chidinma Udegbunam, and Ogochukwu Obi, the group stated that it was not surprised by the argument by the Nigerian Government that “Muslims are also being killed”, when the same government had, since 2023, “imposed Muslim Presidency and Vice-Presidency central leadership style for the first time in the political history of the country.”

“To admit that ‘Christians are not the only ones being killed, Muslims are also being killed’, the Nigerian Government self-indicted itself and expressly admitted that Nigeria is undergoing raging and unaddressed Religious Persecution, perpetrators of which are freely and lawlessly protected and allowed to walk uncaught and untouched,” the group said.

Intersociety urged international bodies to compel Nigeria to rise to the challenge, alleging an infiltration of “more than 22 fully grown and embryonic Islamic terror groups across Africa”, as well as moves to bring into the country other terror groups, including Fulani-originated Jihadist militants called ‘Bororos’ from neighbouring countries, and have them deployed in Kwara State and environs to fight forest banditry and bandits.

While commending the Donald Trump Government of the United States for the efforts made so far, it stated that more efforts were needed until the ‘Rwandan-type Genocide’ looming in Nigeria or any part thereof is effectively prevented.

It listed states where the killings occurred within the period to include Kaduna, Benue, Imo, and Enugu, even as it revealed how an Orlu, Imo State-based Christian Prophetess, Ebere, and 19 of her Ministry members were “ambushed during their nighttime ‘Mountain Prayer and Fasting’ and later gruesomely murdered”.