The United States is considering sanctions or Pentagon engagement on counterterrorism as part of plans to compel the Nigerian government to do more to protect Christians from persecution, a State Department senior official said on Nov. 20.
Jonathan Pratt, who leads the Bureau of African Affairs, outlined the plans in a statement to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in a hearing focused on President Donald Trump’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern (CPC), due to the widespread violence toward and alleged murder of Christians in the African nation.
“The Trump administration is developing a plan to incentivize and compel the Nigerian government to better protect Christian communities and improve religious freedom,” Pratt said….