The U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has said that 8,279 lives were lost to activities of violent Islamic groups in 2020 in northern Nigeria.USCIRF is an independent federal government entity established by the U.S Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom across the globe.
According to USCIRF report, security challenges in Africa’s most populous country, have also retarded its economic growth and development.The report focuses on religious freedom violations committed by violent Islamic groups in northern Nigeria. “This is especially, while Nigeria battles with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its economic impacts that claimed many lives,” said the report. On incessant loss of people’s lives, the report said: “In Nigeria’s 36 states, Borno which is the epicenter of Boko Haram insurgency for over a decade claimed 3,005 lives of people; while Kaduna lost 1,026 and Katsina 876 in 2020.
“Zamfara and Niger states also lose 845 and 236 people’s lives respectively.”
According to the report; about 37,500 deaths were recorded since 2011; due to Boko Haram activities and other violent groups. Despite Nigerians’ pleas for the government to “intervene and stop” the incessant killings, not much has been done on the massacre of innocent people.
“As a result of massive killings, Nigeria’s economy is taking the heat with a 16.5% inflation rate for January, 2021,” said the report. The report also noted that the country which has the largest economy in Africa, is being regarded as most unsecured and continued to scare many investors.
“The insecurity to lives and property in the country, is scaring prospective investors away,” the report warned, noting that violent Islamist groups in northern Nigeria remain the deadliest and most formidable jihadist groups operating across globe. Besides, the report lamented that the violent groups have also committed war crimes and they are against humanity.According to the report, the US Department of State-designate Boko Haram as an Entity of Particular Concern (EPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act for engaging in or tolerating systematic, on-going, and egregious violations of religious freedom.
