Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
The United States government is reportedly considering sanctions against at least 12 Nigerian governors and several senior officials after their names allegedly appeared on a new watchlist compiled by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), also known as the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list.
According to diplomatic sources in Washington, the U.S. administration is currently reviewing recommendations to impose visa bans, asset freezes, and other punitive measures on Nigerian officials accused of promoting, supporting, or ignoring human rights violations and religious persecution across several states.
Officials on the list are said to include governors from northern and central Nigeria, regions that have witnessed persistent ethno-religious conflicts, leading to mass displacement, destruction of property, and loss of lives over the years.
This development comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump reclassified Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”, citing repeated attacks on Christian communities and what he described as “insufficient government response” to escalating religious violence. Trump also warned that Washington could suspend aid or take direct measures if the Nigerian government fails to act decisively to protect vulnerable communities.
Sources indicate that U.S. intelligence and diplomatic agencies have been gathering evidence on incidents involving church attacks, forced displacement, and alleged human rights abuses by security operatives handling religiously motivated unrest. If approved, the sanctions will likely be rolled out in phases, potentially targeting members of the military and police accused of complicity or cover-ups.
Reacting to the reports, Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala dismissed the allegations as “biased and politically motivated,” asserting that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion and equal rights for all citizens. He cautioned the U.S. government against what he termed “external attempts to misrepresent Nigeria’s complex security realities as purely religious persecution.”
Bwala added that an official response will be issued once Washington finalizes its position on the proposed sanctions.
The development has sparked widespread debate within Nigeria, with civil society groups urging transparency and accountability in government actions while religious leaders call for restraint and diplomatic engagement to prevent further strain in U.S.–Nigeria relations.
By Stone Reporters News
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