The United States will continue efforts to confront militant groups and what it describes as religiously intolerant violence in Nigeria and other parts of the world, according to a statement issued by the US Department of State quoting President Donald Trump.

“My administration is confronting head-on the militant and really intolerant campaign that seeks to drive religious believers out of public life and out of society,” Trump said in the statement shared on X.

The remarks come amid renewed deadly attacks in Nigeria, particularly in parts of the North-Central region, where armed groups have carried out mass killings in recent weeks, further highlighting the country’s worsening security challenges.

In Kwara State, gunmen earlier this month attacked several rural communities, killing scores of residents, burning homes and displacing families. Local authorities said the attackers struck in the early hours, shooting indiscriminately and setting buildings ablaze before fleeing. Security forces were later deployed as survivors sought refuge in neighbouring areas.

Similarly, violence has persisted in Plateau State despite repeated military operations. Recent attacks on farming communities reportedly left dozens dead, according to local officials and community leaders.

The killings form part of a protracted cycle of violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, often linked to armed groups exploiting disputes over land, grazing routes and local governance, with religious identity frequently intensifying tensions.

Nigeria has long grappled with multiple security threats, including a jihadist insurgency in the northeast led by Boko Haram and its Islamic State affiliate, widespread banditry in the northwest and parts of the central region, as well as recurring communal clashes across several states.

While many attacks are framed along religious lines, analysts argue that the underlying drivers are complex, involving poverty, competition over scarce resources, weak state presence and governance failures.

During Trump’s presidency, the United States adopted a hardline stance on Nigeria over religious freedom concerns, at one point designating the country as a Country of Particular Concern. The move drew strong criticism from Nigerian authorities, who rejected claims of state-backed religious persecution and maintained that victims of violence cut across religious lines.

Despite the tensions, Washington has continued security cooperation with Abuja, including intelligence sharing, training and limited support aimed at weakening militant networks. US officials have repeatedly stressed that their engagement focuses on counterterrorism and civilian protection rather than direct combat operations. (The Guardian)

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