President Donald TrumpViolence in Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa reaches crisis levels as victims demand action over condolences
The United States has issued a strong condemnation of the escalating violence targeting Christians in Nigeria and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, with former President Donald Trump vowing “decisive action” against what he described as “horrific atrocities.”
This comes after a series of gruesome massacres in recent weeks, leaving entire communities devastated. In one of the deadliest incidents, Islamist Fulani militants stormed the Nigerian village of Bindi Ta-hoss, killing at least 27 Christians, many of them women and children, by setting a church ablaze while victims sought refuge inside. Survivors described scenes of horror. “I lost my wife and second daughter in the attack,” recounted Solomon Sunday. “They were burned alive.”
The violence is not limited to Nigeria. On July 27, the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo witnessed another bloodbath as 49 Christians were slaughtered with machetes during prayers. Authorities attribute the attack to the Allied Democratic Forces, an ISIS-affiliated militant group.
Across the region, extremist factions, including Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa are accused of systematic campaigns to kill Christians, seize land, and displace entire populations. Open Doors, an international Christian advocacy group, reports that more believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined. Over the past decade, jihadist violence in sub-Saharan Africa has claimed an estimated 150,000 lives and forced more than 16 million Christians from their homes. In Plateau State alone, armed Fulani militants have reportedly taken control of over 64 communities.
Trump’s statement, echoed by the U.S. State Department, stressed that defending religious freedom is both a moral duty and a foreign policy priority. “The Trump administration condemns in the strongest terms this horrific violence against Christians,” the White House declared.
Local leaders say they are running out of patience with what they see as empty gestures. “People are being killed like chickens, and nothing is being done,” said youth leader D’Young Mangut. Victims’ families, still reeling from loss, say they are “tired of condolences” and are demanding concrete security measures to prevent further bloodshed.
Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, who lost 20 parishioners in one such attack, accused militants of attempting to carve out an Islamic State within parts of Nigeria. Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland, warned that the crisis is being dangerously ignored. “For too long, nobody has been talking about the horrific wholesale slaughter of Christians. The Western world needs to wake up and be outraged,” she said.
Advocates are urging African governments to respond with urgency deploying adequate security forces, prosecuting perpetrators, and restoring communities torn apart by years of unchecked violence.
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