U.S. government responses to violence against religious groups commonly include diplomatic measures (including potential sanctions), assistance programs, and intelligence sharing.
November 23, 2025
high
policy
General toolkit used in U.S. foreign policy to address violence against religious communities.
The U.S. security footprint in Africa has diminished in recent years, with some military partnerships being scaled down or canceled.
November 23, 2025
high
trend
Observed trend in U.S. military engagement on the African continent.
Drivers of communal and insurgent violence in Nigeria include militant Islamist groups such as Boko Haram that have killed both Christians and Muslims; clashes between mainly Muslim herders and mostly Christian farmers over land and water; and armed bandits who carry out abductions for ransom and frequently target schools.
November 23, 2025
high
security
Structural causes and actors involved in different forms of violence within Nigeria.
Armed actors in Nigeria have carried out mass abductions of schoolchildren from boarding schools, a pattern that has led authorities to temporarily close schools in affected areas.
November 21, 2025
medium
temporal
General pattern of kidnappings of students and policy responses such as temporary school closures in affected regions.
Attacks including killings and abductions targeting Christians and Christian institutions have been reported in Nigeria since at least 2001.
January 01, 2001
medium
temporal
Summarizes a reported long-term pattern of violence against Christian communities and institutions in Nigeria.