United Nations warns of violence risk to Christian women in Nigeria

United Nations human rights experts have issued a warning to Nigerian officials regarding the heightened risk of violence against Christian women and girls. The warning follows a failure by the Nigerian government to respond to a June 1 letter detailing patterns of religiously motivated persecution, including killings, sexual violence, and forced conversions in northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt region.

The UN experts attributed the rising violence to armed extremist groups, specifically Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Fulani herder militias. The experts expressed concern over the targeting of religious minorities and noted instances of abduction, forced marriage, and physical mutilation. The letter also pointed to potential negligence or acquiescence by Nigerian officials in countering these groups.

In related developments, advocates have criticized recent military interventions, including those involving U.S. assets, stating they have not effectively halted the escalation of attacks. Critics argue that while airstrikes occurred, the lack of sustained action has allowed attackers to re-strategize, with violence reportedly spreading toward the southern parts of the country.