,,iv  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #hb  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(      
,,repres5tatives  ,janu>y #ca1 #bjbc,mr4
 ,smi? ( ,new ,j]sey 7= himself1 ,mr4   
,cuell>1 & ,mr4 ,hill7 submitt$ ! foll[+
 resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,=eign ,affairs           
,,resolution  ,express+ ! s5se (        
,congress reg>d+ ! ne$ to designate     
,nig]ia a ,c\ntry ( ,p>ticul> ,conc]n = 
engag+ 9 & tol]at+ sy/ematic1 ongo+1 &  
egregi\s violations ( religi\s fre$om1 !
 ne$ to appo9t a ,special ,envoy =      
,nig]ia & ! ,lake ,*ad region1 & = o!r  
purposes4  ,:]eas 9 #bjbj1 ! ,dep>tm5t (
 ,/ate designat$ ,nig]ia a ,c\ntry (    
,p>ticul> ,conc]n 7,,cpc7 pursuant to ! 
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om ,act (  
#aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdja et seq471    
f9d+ t x is engag+ 9 or                 
tol]at+sy/ematic1 ongo+1 egregi\s       
violations ( religi\s fre$om2 ,:]eas1 9 
#bjba & #bjbb1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate      
omitt$ ,nig]ia f its ,,cpc li/2 ,:]eas1 
9 #bjbb1 ! ,u4,s4 ,commission on        

,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om         
7,,uscirf7 recomm5d$ t ! ,dep>tm5t (    
,/ate r$esignate ,nig]ia z a ,,cpc &    
f\nd ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's decision to  
deli/ ,nig]ia inexplicable1 & a result (
 turn+ a bl9d eye to t c\ntry's         
p>ticul>ly sev]e religi\s fre$om        
violations2 ,:]eas ,,uscirf f9ds t 9    
,nig]ia's ,middle ,belt1 non/ate arm$   
gr\ps also conduct$ attacks on h\ses (  
wor%ip1 religi\s c]emonies1 & religi\s  
lead]s1 ) ,*ri/ian communities & _!     
*ur*es hit p>ticul>ly h>d & t ! ,nig]ian
 ,gov]nm5t has (t5 fail$ to respond     
suffici5tly to viol5ce aga9/ religi\s   
lead]s & congregations2 ,:]eas1 9       
,janu>y #bjbc1 ,op5 ,doors report$ 9    
,nig]ia !re 7 #e1jad ,*ri/ians kill$ 9  
#bjbb1 ne>ly #ij p]c5t ( ! total numb] (
 ,*ri/ians kill$ worldwide ''' & almo/  
#ij p]c5t ( kidnapp+s c>ri$ out aga9/   
,*ri/ians 9 #bjbb2 ,:]eas accord+ to "s 
exp]ts1 ! nor!rn-bas$ ,miyetti ,allah   
,cattle ,bre$]s ,association1 a ,fulani 
h]dsm5 advocacy gr\p1 supports          

ree/abli%+ a ,fulani empire1 model$ ^u !
 caliphate 9 nor!rn ,nig]ia e/abli%$ by 
,usman dan ,fodio1 9 ! e>ly #ai? c5tury2
 ,:]eas ,nig]ia is an e?nically &       
religi\sly div]se ,f$]al ,/ate1 &       
traditionally political p[] has be5     
balanc$ betwe5 ,muslims & ,*ri/ians1    
,nor!rn]s & ,s\!rn]s1 & among ,nig]ia's 
#cga diff]5t e?nic gr\ps2 ,:]eas        
,presid5t ,muhammadu ,buh>i has favor$ &
 promot$ fell[ ,fulani & o!r nor!rn     
,muslim e?nic gr\ps1 :ile _m ( ,nig]ia's
 div]se e?nic & religi\s gr\ps1 includ+ 
,igbo & ,yoruba z well z ,*ri/ians &    
,%ia ,muslims1 report !y are d5i$ equal 
rights2 ,:]eas1 on ,july #ac1 #bjba1 9  
te/imony at a congressional he>+ be=e ! 
,tom ,lantos ,human ,rights ,commission 
by ,bi%op ,mat!w ,kukah ( ,sokoto1      
repres5t+ ! ,ca?olic ,*ur* 9 ,nig]ia1   
/at$ t ! ,muslim eliteuses religion z a 
tool = political mobilisation1 & fur!r  
/at$ t ,presid5t ,buh>i %[s a cle>      
pref]5ce = appo9t+ m5 & wom5 ( 8 fai?2  
,:]eas dep>tures f pa/ conv5tions aim$  

at a*iev+ e?nic1 religi\s1 & geographic 
balance include ! =c$ replacem5t (      
!n-,*ief ,ju/ice ( ! ,supreme ,c\rt     
,walt] ,onnogh5 ) a ,muslim juri/1 & !  
selection ( ,muslims z lead]s ( bo?     
h\ses ( ! national legislature2 ,:]eas  
,presid5t ,buh>i's p>ty1 ! ,all         
,progressives ,congress1 9 a dep>ture f 
cu/om>y practice1 nom9at$ two ,muslims  
to its #bjbc ,presid5tial ticket1       
select+ z vice presid5tial c&idate      
,ka%im ,%ettima1 ^: pa/ t5ure z gov]nor 
( ,borno ,/ate 0 criticiz$ = fail+ to   
adequately address jihadi viol5ce       
p]petrat$ by ,boko ,h>am2 ,:]eas ! ,aid 
to ! ,*ur* 9 ,ne$ reports t1 s9ce e>ly  
#bjbb alone1 #bj ,nig]ian ,ca?olic      
prie/s h be5 kidnapp$1 #e ( :om 7       
murd]$1 ) _m ( ^! attacks occurr+ on    
*ur* gr\nds2 ,:]eas1 on ,janu>y #aa1    
#bjbc1 ,bi%op ,lucius ,iwejuru ,ugorji1 
presid5t ( ! ,nig]ian ,ca?olic ,bi%ops' 
,conf]5ce1 & f\r o!r bi%ops on !        
conf]5ce's adm9i/rative bo>d met )      
,presid5t ,buh>i to appeal = civil      

protections 9 ,nig]ia1 /at+1 our ,*ur*  
p]sonnel h be5 frequ5t victims 9 t]ms ( 
kidnapp+ or outright murd]2 ,:]eas !    
,me?odi/ ,*ur* report$ on ,may #bi1     
#bjbb1 t eight ,fulani militants abduct$
 & tortur$ its head1 ,prelate ,samuel   
,kanu-,u*e1 a *apla91 & ,bi%op ,d5nis   
,m>k ( ,ow]ri1 :o 7 releas$ aft] pay+ a 
#bdj1jjj ransom1 :ile ! militants w>n$1 
,we w f9i% y p & take ov] ?is l&1       
accord+ to ,bi%op ,kanu1 :o add$1 ,!y   
claim$ t ,nig]ia belong$ to ,fulani2    
,:]eas imams 7 also abduct$ 9 #bjbb1    
accord+ to ,nig]ian m$ia reports1 ) !   
*ief imam ( ,masama-,mudi village1      
,zamf>a1 be+ abduct$ f 8 mosque on      
,decemb] #bi1 #bjbb1 by unkn[n          
assailants1 & an imam be+ abduct$ 9     
,zugu1 ,zamf>a ,/ate1 9 a mosque attack 
on ,septemb] #b1 #bjbb1 report$ly by    
t]rori/s2 ,:]eas 9 nor!rn & c5tral      
,nig]ia1 ne>-weekly1 viol5t assaults on 
*ur*es & _! congregations are report$ly 
c>ri$ out by designat$ t]ror gr\ps1     
,fulani militants & o!r non/ate actors1 

:o act ) impunity2 ,:]eas nor!rn ,nig]ia
 has se5 ! de/ruction ( ov] #ag1jjj     
*ur*es s9ce #bjji 9 attacks by ,boko    
,h>am militants1 ,fulani h]dsm51 & o!rs1
 accord+ to a #bjbj ,vatican report (   
its int]view ( a ,nig]ian ,ca?olic civil
 rights exp]t1 & 9 #bjba1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
,/ate report$ five attacks on mosques by
 unid5tifi$ gunm51 b&its1 & ,boko ,h>am2
 ,:]eas1 = ov] a decade1 ,islamic t]ror 
organizations h c>ri$ out mass murd]1   
rape1 kidnapp+s1 & o!r atrocities on    
,nig]ians ( v>i\s e?nic & religi\s      
backgr\nds1 caus+ unspeakable suff]+ &  
displacem5t1 & ! ,unit$ ,nations ,high  
,commission] = ,refugees 7,,unhcr7      
reports t ?is has result$ 9 ov] #c      
million int]nally displac$ p]sons       
7,i,d,ps7 9 nor!a/]n ,nig]ia1 & #cdc1jjj
 regi/]$ refugee ,nig]ians 9 ! ,lake    
,*ad region2 ,:]eas t]rori/ gr\p ,boko  
,h>am1 ^: "n means ,we/]n education is  
=bidd51 kidnapp$ ov] #bjj mo/ly ,*ri/ian
 s*oolgirls 9 #bjad 9 ,*ibok1 ,borno    
,/ate2 #ajj rema9 captive & are sexually

 abus$ & pressur$ to conv]t to ,islam1 &
 ,leah ,%>ibu1 a ,*ri/ian1 rema9s       
captive & enslav$ foll[+ a t]rori/ raid 
( h] s*ool1 9 ,dap*i1 ,yobe ,/ate1 9    
#bjah2 ,:]eas ! ,briti% ,all ,p>ty      
,p>liam5t ,gr\p 7,,appg7 report ( #bjbj 
f9ds t "s ,fulani h]d]s demon/rat$ a    
cle> int5t to t>get ,*ri/ians & symbols 
( ,*ri/ian id5tity su* z *ur*es1 &1 dur+
 attacks1 %\t$ ,allah u ,akb>1 de/roy ! 
infidels1 & wipe out ! infidels1 & on   
,janu>y #ae1 #bjbc1 assailants report$ly
 attack$ ,new ,life = ,all ,*ur* 9      
,kats9a1 %oot+ & w\nd+ ! pa/or &        
kidnapp+ up to #be 9 ! congregation1    
includ+ #e wom5 & girls2 ,:]eas1 on     
,june #e1 #bjbb1 = ! fir/ "t 9 s\!rn    
,nig]ia1 a *ur* 0 attack$ dur+ a        
,p5teco/ ,sunday ,mass1 :5 t]rori/s     
massacr$ #dj wor%ipp]s & w\nd$ scores m 
9 a %oot+ attack on ,/4 ,francis ,xavi] 
,ca?olic ,*ur* 9 ,owo ,city1 9 ,ondo    
,/ate1 & none ( ! suspects h be5        
convict$ & s5t5c$2 ,:]eas ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
,/ate mis*>act]izes or incompletely     

*>act]izes ! increas+ incid5ts ( l>ge   
scale viol5ce 9 ,nig]ia's nor!rn &      
c5tral rural regions z communal cla%es  
betwe5 ,muslim h]d]s & ,*ri/ian f>m]s1  
solely attributable to competition =    
sc>ce natural res\rces result+ f climate
 *ange2 ,:]eas ,,uscirf reports t       
,fulani-affiliat$ arm$ gr\ps us$        
religi\s rhetoric :ile conduct+ myriad  
attacks on pr$om9antly ,*ri/ian villages
 9 ,kaduna ,/ate1 & t kidnapp]s also    
report$ly delib]ately t>get$ ,*ri/ians =
 abduction & execution2 ,:]eas ,,uscirf 
concludes t ! ,nig]ian ,gov]nm5t has    
r\t9ely fail$ to inve/igate ^! attacks  
on ,*ri/ian communities & prosecute ^?  
responsible1 demon/rat+ a problematic   
level ( apa?y on ! "p ( /ate (ficials2  
,:]eas ! ,,unhcr reports t !re are ov]  
#b4a million ,i,d,ps 9 nor!a/]n ,nig]ia1
 & #cjd1efb regi/]$ refugee ,nig]ians 9 
! ,lake ,*ad region2 ,:]eas ,,uscirf    
cites ,nig]ia's ,islamic blasphemy laws 
among ! reasons x li/s ,nig]ia z wor?y (
 ,,cpc designation1 giv5 t ,nig]ia is "o

 ( only #g c\ntries ) crim9al blasphemy 
laws t c>ry ! dea? p5alty1 ) su* laws   
exi/+ 9 ! #ab majority-,muslim nor!rn   
,nig]ian ,/ates2 ,:]eas1 9 #bjbj1       
,yahaya ,%>if-,am9u1 a ,sufi musician1 0
 convict$ ( blasphemy aft] %>+ lyrics on
 ,whats,app & s5t5c$ to dea? )\t legal  
repres5tation 9 ,kano2 ,muslim cl]ics1  
,abdul & ,%eikh ,abduljabb>             
,nasiru-,kab>a1 are n[ on dea? r[ =     
blasphemy 9 ,kano2 & ,nig]ia's ,humani/ 
,association & =m] ,muslim ,mub>ak ,bala
 receiv$ a #bd-ye> s5t5ce = apo/asy 9   
#bjbb2 & ,:]eas1 on ,may #ab1 #bjbb1    
,deborah ,yakubu1 a ,*ri/ian /ud5t1 0   
beat5 to dea? by a mob on h] s*ool's    
campus 9 ,sokoto = alleg$ blasphemy     
aga9/ ,islam on ,whats,app1 only two    
suspects 7 arre/$ on m9or *>ges1 & =    
criticiz+ ,yakubu's murd]1 ! ,sultan (  
,sokoto & ,sokoto's ,ca?olic ,bi%op     
,mat!w ,kukah fac$ s]i\s dea? ?reats f  
o!rs :o act$ ) impunity3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be 
x ,t-- 7#a7 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate %\ld    
imm$iately designate ,nig]ia a c\ntry ( 

p>ticul> conc]n = engag+ 9 & tol]at+    
sy/ematic1 ongo+1 & egregi\s violations 
( religi\s fre$om1 z m&at$ by !         
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om ,act (  
#aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdja et seq472 &  
7#b7 9 ord] to ensure t ! ,secret>y (   
,/ate receives m complete & accurate    
report+ & analysis1 ! ,presid5t %\ld    
promptly appo9t a p]son ( recogniz$     
di/9ction 9 ! fields ( religi\s fre$om &
 human rights z ,special ,envoy =       
,nig]ia & ! ,lake ,*ad ,region ) ! rank 
( ,ambassador1 :o reports directly to ! 
,secret>y ( ,/ate & coord9ates ,unit$   
,/ates ,gov]nm5t ef=ts to monitor &     
combat atrocities !re4