The Nigerian and United States governments have underscored more protection of all vulnerable Christians, Muslims and other faiths emphasizing that violence against vulnerable groups in Nigeria, particularly Christians, needed immediate official counter actions by federal agencies.
This emerged as the high point of the Nigeria-US Joint Working Group meeting which addressed Nigeria’s Country of Particular Concern Designation, held last Thursday in Abuja.
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu led the Nigerian delegation comprising 10 ministries and agencies while the U.S under Secretary of State, Allison Hooker headed the U.S. delegation of eight federal agencies.
The Working Group was established following the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by President Donald Trump under the International Religious Freedom Act.
The objectives of the Working Group are to reduce violence against vulnerable groups in Nigeria, particularly Christians, and to create a conducive atmosphere for all Nigerians to freely practice their faith without any harassment by terrorists, separatists, bandits, and criminal militias.
Discussions at the session focused on wide-ranging issues and challenges where Nigeria-US cooperation and partnership could improve religious freedom and massively improve security across the country.
At the end of the session both governments reiterated unwavering commitment to upholding the principles of religious freedom and the need, therefore, to take joint active, sustained measures to promote and protect the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and freedom of religion or belief for all in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Participants further emphasised the importance of protecting civilians, particularly members of vulnerable Christian communities, and holding perpetrators of violence accountable.
While acknowledging the long-standing relationship between their two countries, grounded on shared values of pluralism, respect for rule of law and sovereignty, they re-affirmed their commitment to strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation, including by working together through operational cooperation, access to technology, anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and building law enforcement and investigative capacity.
The Joint Working Group agreed that the next meeting should be held in the United States at a mutually convenient date to be arranged through diplomatic channels.
The Spokesman reports that the Joint Nigeria-US airstrikes of Christmas Day successfully dismantled terrorist camps in the Lakurawa forest area of Tangaza Local Government Area with residents of Kawuri-Kandan, Malgam, and Kahuri villages expressing relief, and noting that the previously persistent Lakurawa threats of terror, extortion, violence, and attacks on livelihoods had diminished with no sign of life in the former terrorist camp sites.
‘’Now that the people’s renewed hope of sustained peace pervades the settlements, they’ve credited the working chemistry of our courageous Armed Forces of Nigeria and the timely US intervention for the highly improved security situation in the affected areas’’, a source was quoted as saying.
