USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood Prioritizes Nigeria's Religious Violence

Asif Mahmood, the newly elected Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), has named Nigeria as his top priority, expressing deep concern over the persistent attacks on religious communities in the country. In an interview with OSV News, Mahmood highlighted the violence linked to Islamic extremist groups, including Boko Haram, which has severely impacted both Christian and Muslim communities.

He noted that disputes between farmers and herders have further exacerbated insecurity. USCIRF previously urged the U.S. government to redesignate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” due to systemic violations of religious freedom, a designation that was reaffirmed by Donald Trump in 2025.

Mahmood criticized the Nigerian government for its failure to adequately respond to violent attacks against religious communities and referenced USCIRF’s 2026 annual report, which expressed ongoing concern about the situation. He emphasized the need for improvements in the safety of worship for communities in Nigeria.