₦airaland Forum

Auchi community has taken a stand against Idol worshipping. Idol worshipping does not have a stand in this community. We are for Allah, the Lord of mankind. Allah alone we worship.” - Man reacts as a Shrine gets destroyed in Auchi

Auchi community has taken a stand against Idol worshipping. Idol worshipping does not have a stand in this community. We are for Allah, the Lord of mankind. Allah alone we worship.” - Man reacts as a Shrine gets destroyed in Auchi pic.twitter.com/o6wxo7KGOd

— TENIOLA (@Teeniiola) February 3, 2026

beardedboy:
Nobody is twisting what you said. You're just a bigot trying to pretend?

Who imposed sharia law on you? Is it too much for muslima to get married and share their inheritance according to Islamic laws just as you have customary and magistrate courts?

Stop pretending and trying to shy from what you really are.

Incognito403:
What nonsense talk is this?

So Nigerians are not free to practice their religion in their own country until they migrate to a foreign land?!

Give me a better definition of persecution than this.

Nigerian Christians are turning this country to an apartheid state for Muslims and you will be met with full force.

We will not be second-class in oir father-land.

And to think folks like you are teh ones trying to lecture the world about religious tolerance shpws how hypocrit you are.

Genocide accusations: US Congress panels hold new session on Nigeria today

Witnesses appearing before the United States Congress Foreign Affairs Committee have cautioned that Nigeria is at risk of descending into widespread Christian–Muslim violence, identifying the country as a major flashpoint in an escalating global crisis of religious freedom.

The warning is contained in written testimonies released ahead of the joint hearing of the committee, which is holding on Wednesday (today), with witnesses citing recurring killings, displacement and insecurity as indicators of an emerging broader religious conflict in Nigeria.

The hearing will be jointly convened by the House Subcommittee on Africa and the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere to assess what US lawmakers describe as mounting threats to religious freedom worldwide. It is titled, ‘Defending Religious Freedom Around the World.’

Written testimonies by key witnesses were released on the committee’s website ahead of the session and are expected to be delivered when the hearing convenes.

Among those scheduled to testify are the former US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback; Principal Advisor for Global Religious Freedom at the US State Department, Mark Walker; Grace Drexel, daughter of detained Chinese pastor Ezra Jin; and Dr Stephen Schneck, former chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

In his prepared testimony, Brownback said, “Radical, militant Islam continues its purification efforts throughout the MENA region and beyond.

“Syria and Nigeria are key focus areas of opportunity for them in their quest for dominance, excluding all other faiths, even others within Islam.

“The people of faith being targeted by this persecution are America’s greatest allies in the spread of freedom around the world. We should see and treat them as such,” he stated.

The ex-envoy identified religious freedom as a central fault line in global politics, warning that authoritarian and totalitarian regimes increasingly view faith communities as threats to state control.

“Religious freedom is now one of our primary weapons against the dark alliance gathered against us,” Brownback said in his prepared testimony.

Brownback singled out Nigeria as a major global flashpoint, describing the country as “the deadliest place on the planet to be a Christian.”

He warned that patterns of violence across the country suggest a deepening religious crisis with implications beyond Nigeria’s borders.

“Early warning signs of a Muslim-on-Christian war are brewing across Africa,” he wrote, adding that Nigeria sits at the centre of that danger.

The ex-ambassador also raised concerns about foreign involvement in Nigeria’s security landscape, stating that support from countries such as “China, Russia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia” could worsen instability if not carefully scrutinised.

Brownback cautioned that failure to act decisively could allow the violence to escalate into mass atrocities similar to those seen in Iraq.

In his own prepared testimony, Schneck described freedom of religion or belief as being in a “historic crisis” worldwide, driven by rising authoritarianism, religious nationalism and state failure.

“Freedom of religion or belief is in crisis in the contemporary world. Whether measured structurally in culture, institutions and laws, or in the sheer number of incidents, persecution is increasing across the globe,” Schneck wrote in his private capacity and not on behalf of the commission.

The ex-USIRF chair identified Nigeria, Syria and Sudan as countries where weak governance and widespread insecurity have created dangerous conditions for religious communities.

“Nigeria, Syria, and Sudan are current examples of such conditions threatening freedom of religion or belief.

“Both Nigeria and Syria are experiencing high levels of societal insecurity and

Their respective governments have been unable to halt widespread violence against communities of faith.

“Both have what were previously designated as Entities of Particular Concern operating within their borders,” he wrote.

According to the ex-USIRF chairman, such environments allow armed groups, insurgents and criminal networks to exploit religious identity, leading to killings, displacement and long-term instability.

He also criticised the US government’s performance under the International Religious Freedom Act, the 1998 law guiding US policy in this area, arguing that Washington has failed to match its rhetoric with sustained action.

“If we are to take the International Religious Freedom Act as our measure, then the United States is not doing enough.

“We have been long on rhetoric and short on substance, consistency and effectiveness,” the ex-USIRF chairman said.

Schneck expressed particular concern about delays in the release of the US State Department’s International Religious Freedom reports and the absence of updated designations of Countries of Particular Concern.

“The State Department has still not made its designations of Countries of Particular Concern, Special Watch List, or Entities of Particular Concern. President Biden’s 2023 designations were to have lapsed at the end of 2025.

“Apparently, Nigeria, thanks to its unique designation by President Trump, is the only country in the world currently designated as a Country of Particular Concern and there are no designated Special Watch List countries or Entities of Particular Concern. This is very concerning at a time when countries like China and Iran are engaged in ever more repressive actions against people of faith,” he noted.

He further warned against narrowing religious freedom advocacy to the persecution of Christians alone, stressing that international law protects all faiths and beliefs.

“International religious freedom, as defined in human rights law, is universal,” Schneck stated. “Selective advocacy undermines both effectiveness and legitimacy.”

The ex-USIRF chairman added, “The administration has relied on high-profile events (such as a one-off Tomahawk strike on Nigeria) and social media declarations rather than sustained, country-specific strategies.

“Religious freedom violations are deeply embedded in legal systems, security practices, and social norms; addressing them requires long-term engagement, multilateral coordination, and careful diplomacy. Early efforts seem to have prioritised visibility over durability.”

Last year, US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious freedom violations, a move accompanied by threats of possible US military intervention.

The US government subsequently attacked terrorist hideouts in Sokoto on Christams day.

However, the Federal Government dismissed claims of systemic Christian persecution, maintaining that insecurity affects citizens of all religious backgrounds.

On November 20, 2025, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu at the Pentagon for discussions on coordinated strategies to address the crisis.

In December, Ribadu announced that he had hosted a US congressional delegation in Abuja as part of ongoing security consultations between the two countries.

According to the NSA, discussions during the meeting focused on “counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability,” and ways to “strengthen the strategic security partnership between Nigeria and the United States.”

Last month, there was a plenary session of the Nigeria–US Joint Working Group on Nigeria’s designation as a CPC.

SmartPolician:
How can you advise people to relocate to a country whose population is nearly 300 million people?

Any country whose population is more than 100 million and they don't have extremely creative leaders and sold governance systems, they are automatically in distress.

Indonesia is Nigeria promax. In fact, they will give their people jobs first before considering immigrants because their population is overwhelming. Islam and Shari'a don't put food on the table 🙂

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has issued more than 85,000 work permits over the past year to revive the country’s labour market.

According to Tolo’s report on Tuesday, the permits were granted to both Afghan citizens and foreign nationals, reflecting the government’s broader strategy to strengthen the workforce amid persistent economic challenges.

In addition, around 20,000 people have received vocational training in various skills during the same period, the report said.

In recent years, authorities have increased efforts to improve employment opportunities by expanding training programmes and enhancing access to the labour market, ai

ISWAP Terrorists Release Video Of Attack On Niger Air Force Base In Niamey, Repeatedly Chant “Allahu Akbar”

The Islamic State – West Africa Province (ISWAP) has released a video showing its fighters carrying out an audacious attack on the 101 Airbase of the Nigerien Air Force located within the Niamey international airport complex.

In the video seen by SaharaReporters, dozens of Islamic State–Sahel fighters riding motorcycles were seen storming the facility and destroying military aircraft, with no visible resistance from Nigerien security forces.

The footage shows the terrorists firing heavy weapons, vandalising aircraft on the tarmac and jubilating after what they described as a “successful mission.”

The fighters were also heard repeatedly chanting their usual “Allahu Akbar” slogans during the operation.

According to the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks jihadist activity and communications worldwide, the Islamic State in the Sahel has formally claimed responsibility for the assault, describing it as an attack on the international airport and the adjacent air force base in Niamey, Niger’s capital.

Security analysts say the group is likely to release a longer documentary-style video in the coming days, a pattern consistent with previous Islamic State operations in the region.

The emergence of the footage raises serious questions about the level of security at one of Niger’s most sensitive military installations and the ability of the country’s armed forces to protect critical national infrastructure amid escalating insurgent violence.

Last Thursday, SaharaReporters reported that explosions rocked Niamey, the capital of Niger, followed by gunfire near the city’s main international airport.

According to reports, a burst of heavy gunfire and explosions erupted shortly after midnight near Niger’s main international airport in the capital, Niamey, terrifying residents and briefly shattering the city’s calm.

Videos filmed by locals showed streaks of light tearing across the night sky, accompanied by thunderous blasts. Other footage circulating online captured flames rising several metres high and multiple vehicles burned and charred.

Residents in neighbourhoods close to Diori Hamani International Airport said the shooting lasted for roughly two hours before subsiding. By around 2 AM, calm had largely returned, according to residents, while several reported hearing sirens as fire trucks moved towards the airport area in the early morning hours.

The airport, located about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the presidential palace, houses an air force base and serves as a military facility. It is also the headquarters of a joint force formed by Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali to combat terrorist groups operating across the Sahel.

Niger has been under military rule since 2023, following the overthrow of the country’s elected civilian government by General Abdourahamane Tiani. The country has since expelled French and US forces that previously assisted in counterterrorism operations.

Niger, along with neighbouring Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria, has experienced a surge in attacks by jihadist groups. The attacks have intensified despite successive military takeovers in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso and promises to prioritise security and restore stability.

HIGHESTPOPORI:
Story,a few businessman can hold the state to ransom and make the state to lose money every Monday.If they don't want to comply they should leave the state.