Author: Gist Correspondent

The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to confronting militant groups and what it describes as religiously motivated intolerance in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

The pledge was conveyed in a statement issued by the US Department of State, quoting President Donald Trump, and shared on the social media platform X.

“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.

The remarks come against the backdrop of renewed deadly attacks in Nigeria, particularly in parts of the North-Central region, where armed groups have carried out violent assaults on rural communities in recent weeks, worsening the country’s security situation.

In Kwara State, gunmen earlier this month attacked several villages, killing many residents, burning homes and forcing families to flee. Local authorities said the assailants struck in the early hours, shooting indiscriminately before setting houses ablaze and escaping. Security forces were later deployed, while survivors sought refuge in neighbouring communities.

Plateau State has also continued to witness violence despite ongoing military operations. Recent attacks on farming communities reportedly left dozens dead, according to local officials and community leaders.

The killings are part of a prolonged cycle of violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, often linked to armed groups exploiting disputes over land, grazing routes and local authority. Religious identity, analysts note, frequently compounds the tensions.

Nigeria continues to battle multiple security threats, including the Boko Haram insurgency and its Islamic State affiliate in the northeast, widespread banditry in the northwest and parts of the central region, as well as recurring communal clashes across several states.

While some attacks are framed in religious terms, analysts argue that the drivers of violence are complex, involving poverty, competition over scarce resources, weak state presence and governance challenges.

During Trump’s presidency, the United States adopted a tougher posture on Nigeria over religious freedom concerns, at one point designating the country as a Country of Particular Concern. Nigerian authorities rejected the designation, insisting that the violence is not state-sponsored and that victims cut across religious lines.

Despite diplomatic tensions, security cooperation between Washington and Abuja has continued, including intelligence sharing, training and limited support aimed at degrading militant networks. US officials have consistently maintained that their engagement focuses on counterterrorism assistance and civilian protection rather than direct combat operations.