Chris Smith, a member of the United States House of Representatives, has accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect its citizens and hold perpetrators accountable following the recent killings in Plateau State.
Several residents believed to be Fulani were killed on
August 16 in Jwak Maitumbi community, Mangu LGA of Plateau, while about 45
residential shelters and large quantities of crops were destroyed.
Less than 48 hours later, suspected Fulani militia invaded
Bin-Per community in Kombun district of Mangu and killed at least 23 people,
including women and children, in what appeared to be a reprisal.
On Thursday, troops of Operation Enduring Peace foiled an
attempted attack on Manja community in the same LGA after receiving information
about armed herders moving with cattle in the area, reportedly destroying
farmlands and attempting to attack the community.
In a statement on Friday, Smith called on the Nigerian
government to take immediate action to protect Christian communities and bring
the perpetrators of the attacks to justice.
“Despite denials by Nigerian government actors, Christians
continue to be slaughtered while Nigerian officials fail to provide adequate
protection or hold the perpetrators accountable,” Smith said.
“Enough is enough. The Nigerian government must fulfill its
most basic responsibility of protecting its citizens.”
According to the statement, Smith spoke alongside Frank
Garcia, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, who urged the
Nigerian government “to meet their commitments to protect Christian communities
and to hold perpetrators of violence accountable”.
“The U.S. State Department’s recent public message
underscores the urgent need for concrete action—not more assurances—as deadly
violence continues to devastate vulnerable communities,” the statement quoted
Smith as saying.
“Instead of spending millions of dollars—$9 million, to be
exact—in an attempt to improve its image in Washington, the Nigerian government
should redirect those resources towards protecting its people and addressing
this grave security crisis.”
Earlier this year, the US rep introduced the Nigeria
Religious Freedom and Accountability Act, which would require the US secretary
of state to compile and submit to Congress a comprehensive report on US efforts
to address the “religious persecution” and mass atrocities in Nigeria.
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