The United States Bureau of Counterterrorism has dismissed claims that the escalating violence in Nigeria is due to land disputes, stating that President Donald Trump is fully aware that the attacks are part of a coordinated jihadist campaign to carve out an Islamic caliphate in West Africa.
In its latest assessment, the Bureau identified ISWAP, Boko Haram, and armed Fulani militants as the leading perpetrators of mass killings, abductions, and targeted assaults against Christian populations. The report confirms that these extremist groups are exploiting weak security structures and have expanded their operations across the Northeast, North-Central, and border communities.
The Bureau warned that the pattern of attacks, ranging from church burnings to the systematic annihilation of farming communities, reflects a coordinated effort aimed at territorial dominance and religious cleansing, not mere resource conflicts.
This aligns with the comprehensive congressional report recently submitted to the White House, which outlined 11 key demands for Nigeria, including the repeal of Sharia law, sanctions on perpetrators, and blocking beef exports as leverage to disarm Fulani militants.