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| According to reports from organizations such as Intersociety, more than 50,000 Christians have been killed since 2009, and thousands of churches were destroyed or burned during the same period (between 18,000 and 20,000, according to various sources). |
WASHINGTON — The United States has announced a $3.5 million initiative to monitor and document religiously motivated violence in Nigeria amid the ongoing climate of insecurity.
The U.S. Department of State’s Office of International Religious Freedom will fund data collection, incident tracking, and accountability initiatives. The program aims to identify patterns of violence and support the development of more effective policies. It is expected to run for 24 to 48 months, and a single organization will receive the grant or partnership agreement.
Nigeria faces constant attacks from Islamist militants such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani herdsmen, who frequently target Christian communities in the central and northern regions of the country. According to Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List, 3,490 Christians were killed for their faith in Nigeria during the period analyzed, representing 72% of all Christian killings worldwide.
According to reports from organizations such as Intersociety, more than 50,000 Christians have been killed since 2009, and thousands of churches were destroyed or burned during the same period (between 18,000 and 20,000, according to various sources).
The US action comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with complex security threats that combine religious extremism, clashes between farmers and herders, banditry, and intercommunal tensions.