By BONIFACE AKARAH

A United States-based lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe, has written to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), calling attention to recent deadly attacks in Nigeria and urging international intervention.

The letter, addressed to USCIRF Chair, Vicky Hartzler, was accompanied by a statement from the U.S.–Nigeria Civil Society Coalition to End Genocide, which described the incidents as “Bloody Palm Sunday” attacks across multiple Nigerian states.

“I regretfully write to intimate you of a tri-state terror attack yesterday marking yet another bloody Palm Sunday in Nigeria,” Ogebe said in the correspondence.

The Coalition called for urgent global response, warning that the scale and pattern of violence require immediate attention.

“Urgent global action [is] needed after ‘Bloody Palm Sunday’ attacks in Nigeria’s Middle Belt,” the statement read.

Ogebe drew comparisons with international conflict zones, questioning the scale of violence in a non-war setting.

“In Zike, Plateau State, Nigeria, Fulani militia killed 54 people… Twenty more people were slaughtered… Ukraine is at war… Nigeria is at peace,” he said.

The Coalition also raised concerns over what it described as repeated failures to act on prior intelligence.

“Despite advance warnings… affected communities were left without adequate security protection,” the statement noted.

It further called on the United States and international bodies, including the United Nations, to take specific actions.

“We call on the United States Government… and the United Nations to recognise these targeted killings as potential atrocity crimes requiring urgent attention,” the Coalition stated.

The group also demanded accountability from Nigerian authorities.

“We demand independent and transparent investigations… All perpetrators must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted,” it added.

Ogebe warned that failure to prevent further attacks during the Easter period could raise questions about response efforts.

“Failure to prevent further predictable attacks… will be seen as complicity or complacency,” he said.

The petition signals growing international advocacy pressure as stakeholders seek external engagement over Nigeria’s security challenges.

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