A member of the United States House of Representatives, Chris Smith, has criticised the Nigerian government over the recent killings in Plateau State, accusing authorities of failing to adequately protect citizens and hold perpetrators accountable.
Several residents were reportedly killed on August 16 in Jwak Maitumbi community, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, while about 45 residential shelters and large quantities of crops were destroyed.
Less than 48 hours later, suspected Fulani militia reportedly attacked Bin-Per community in the Kombun district of Mangu, killing at least 23 people, including women and children, in what was described as a reprisal attack.
The violence has continued to raise concerns over the security of communities in the area. On Thursday, troops of Operation Enduring Peace reportedly foiled an attempted attack on Manja community in Mangu Local Government Area after receiving intelligence about armed herders allegedly moving with cattle, destroying farmlands and planning to attack the community.
Reacting to the incidents, Smith called on the Nigerian government to take immediate steps to protect vulnerable communities and ensure that those responsible for the violence are brought 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 in a statement.
“Enough is enough. The Nigerian government must fulfil its most basic responsibility of protecting its citizens.”
Smith said the US government should continue to press Nigeria to take concrete measures to protect communities affected by violence.
The lawmaker said Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, had also 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,” Smith said.
He also criticised what he described as government spending aimed at improving Nigeria’s image in Washington, arguing that resources should instead be directed towards addressing the country’s security challenges.
“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,” he said.
Earlier this year, the US House of Representatives introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act, which would require the US Secretary of State to prepare and submit to Congress a comprehensive report on US efforts to address what the proposed legislation describes as religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.
The latest comments by Smith come amid renewed international scrutiny of Nigeria’s security situation and concerns over recurring attacks on communities in parts of the country.
