Witnesses appearing before the United States Congress have warned that Nigeria could slide into widespread Christian–Muslim violence, identifying the country as a key flashpoint in a growing global crisis of religious freedom.
The warning is contained in written testimonies released ahead of a joint hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Africa and Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, holding on Wednesday. Lawmakers are examining what they describe as rising threats to religious freedom worldwide.
In his prepared testimony, former US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, described Nigeria as “the deadliest place on the planet to be a Christian”, warning that patterns of killings, displacement and insecurity point to a deepening religious crisis.
“Early warning signs of a Muslim-on-Christian war are brewing across Africa,” Brownback wrote, adding that Nigeria sits at the centre of that risk. He said militant Islamist groups continue to target faith communities and warned that failure to respond could allow violence to escalate into mass atrocities.
Brownback also raised concerns about foreign involvement in Nigeria’s security space, saying support from countries such as China, Russia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia could worsen instability if not closely examined.
Another witness, Dr Stephen Schneck, former chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, said freedom of religion or belief is in a “historic crisis” globally, driven by authoritarian rule, religious nationalism and weak governance.
In his testimony, Schneck listed Nigeria, Syria and Sudan as countries where insecurity and state failure have created dangerous conditions for religious communities. He said armed groups and criminal networks exploit religious identity, leading to killings and long-term instability.
Schneck criticised the US government’s handling of religious freedom policy, arguing that Washington has relied on rhetoric rather than sustained action. He expressed concern over delays in publishing US religious freedom reports and the absence of updated designations of Countries of Particular Concern.
He noted that Nigeria is currently the only country designated as a Country of Particular Concern, following a decision last year by President Donald Trump, and warned against focusing advocacy on one faith alone. “International religious freedom is universal,” Schneck said.
Nigeria’s government has rejected claims of systemic Christian persecution, insisting that insecurity affects citizens across religious lines. Abuja and Washington have continued security talks, with both sides saying recent discussions focused on counter-terrorism and regional stability.
