Former United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy, has criticised the Nigerian government for what he described as its refusal to acknowledge alleged targeted violence against Christians in the country.
Allegations of widespread killings of Christians have generated debate in recent months, with the Nigerian government maintaining that no specific religious group is being deliberately targeted and attributing the violence largely to criminality and communal conflicts.
In a statement posted on X following a conversation with United States-based Biafran separatist leader, Ogechukwu Nkere, Nagy alleged that Abuja was focusing on suppressing pro-Biafra voices instead of addressing security and governance concerns in the South-East.
“Nigerians in former Biafra suffered greatly, never fully recovering from the horrendous war. Also tragic is the Nigerian government’s refusal to admit there is a huge problem with targeted violence against Christians,” Nagy wrote.
“The Nigerian govt. should try giving Biafrans justice, security, and good governance instead of trying to suppress their freedom of expression outside Nigeria. That would be a much better use of their funds!” he added.
Nagy’s remarks came amid reports that Nigerian authorities are seeking action against Nkere, the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), who resides in the United States.
According to an article published on May 25, 2026, by Africa Intelligence, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit officials were reportedly engaging counterparts in the US Treasury Department with the aim of pursuing sanctions against Nkere.
The report also highlighted Nkere’s lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C., including engagements with members of Congress and the White House aimed at drawing attention to allegations of Christian persecution and the political marginalisation of Biafrans.
Observers cited by the report suggested that the alleged move by Nigerian authorities was intended not only to counter Nkere’s advocacy but also to target him over his political activities in the United States.
Nkere, who succeeded former BRGIE Prime Minister Simon Ekpa, currently detained in Finland, condemned the reported efforts.
“Such actions would constitute a cynical misuse of frameworks to target a legitimate self-determination and independence movement representing millions of Christians from Southeast Nigeria,” he said in a statement.
Supporters of the separatist movement argue that sustained engagement with American policymakers has elevated concerns over insecurity and alleged persecution of Christians in the South-East to a matter of increasing interest in Washington.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims of religiously motivated persecution, insisting that insecurity across the country affects citizens irrespective of faith or ethnicity and that efforts are ongoing to address the challenges.
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