Calls for Congressional Hearing Over Religious Killings in Nigeria
Days before Christmas, hundreds of Christians were killed in Nigeria, along with their Pastor. This is just the latest example of deadly violence against religious communities in Nigeria. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Calls for Congressional Hearing after State Department Fails to Designate Nigeria and India as Countries of Particular Concern (CPC).
AfricA-Related, New York
Days before Christmas, hundreds of Christians were killed in Nigeria, along with their Pastor. This is just the latest example of deadly violence against religious communities in Nigeria. (Photo: Screenshot)
PRESS RELEASE
January 4, 2024
USCIRF Calls for Congressional Hearing after State Department Fails to Designate Nigeria and India as Countries of Particular Concern (CPC), while Azerbaijan is Added to State Department’s Special Watch List
Washington, DC – The United States
Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) calls for a congressional hearing after reiterating its extreme disappointment that the U.S. Department of State yet again failed to designate Nigeria and India as Countries of Particular Concern (CPC), despite both countries repeatedly meeting the legal standard. Despite this disappointment, USCIRF welcomed the State Department’s decision to include Azerbaijan on its Special Watch List (SWL) for committing or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).
“There is no justification as to why the State Department did not designate Nigeria or India as a Country of Particular Concern, despite its own reporting and statements. USCIRF calls on Congress to convene a public hearing on the failure of the State Department to follow our recommendations,” said USCIRF Chair Abraham Cooper and Vice Chair Frederick A. Davie.
Mass burials taking place in Plateau State. (Photo by Kim Masara / AFPTV / AFP)
“Days before Christmas, hundreds of Christians were killed in Nigeria, along with their Pastor. This is just the latest example of deadly violence against religious communities in Nigeria that even the State Department has condemned. The majority of Commissioners have travelled to Nigeria and noted the threats to freedom of religion or belief and the deadly implications to religious communities,” stated USCIRF Chair Cooper and Vice Chair Davie. “In India, in addition to perpetrating egregious religious freedom violations within its borders, the government has increased its transnational repression activities targeting religious minorities abroad and those advocating on their behalf.”
“USCIRF rejects the State Department’s decision to omit Nigeria and India as CPCs. We met with the State Department on many occasions to sound the alarm about these countries, but not all of our recommendations have not been followed. We will not be deterred and will continue our role as a congressionally mandated watchdog to ensure the U.S. government prioritizes religious freedom as a key component of U.S. foreign policy,” they added.
The State Department re-designated 12 countries as CPCs—Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Furthermore, the State Department again issued waivers on sanctions for Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. In its 2023 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended the re-designation of those 12 countries without any waivers and also recommended CPC designation for Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, Syria, and Vietnam.
The State Department placed Algeria, Azerbaijan, the Central African Republic (CAR), Comoros, and Vietnam on its SWL. USCIRF recommended in its 2023 Annual Report that Algeria, Azerbaijan, and CAR be placed on the SWL, in addition to Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.
“USCIRF acknowledges the State Department accepted our recommendation to include Azerbaijan on its SWL. At the same time, USCIRF is disappointed that the State Department did not include our other recommendations for CPC or SWL. Though Vietnam is included on its Special Watch List, USCIRF strongly believes Vietnam should be designated a CPC based on the State Department’s own reporting on the government’s religious freedom violations,” said USCIRF Chair Cooper and Vice Chair Davie. “USCIRF formally requests a detailed justification by the State Department as to why our policy recommendations were not fully implemented, including the waivers.”
The State Department also designated eight EPCs, which are non-state actors that engage in particularly severe violations of religious freedom pursuant to IRFA. USCIRF recommended the redesignation of seven of these actors in its 2023 Annual Report: al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Houthis, ISIS-Sahel (formerly known as Islamic State in the Greater Sahara or ISGS), Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP, also referred to as ISIS-West Africa), and Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM).
Since the issuance of its 2023 Annual Report, USCIRF has consistently shared its recommendations with the U.S. Department of State and Congress. In early December 2023, USCIRF met with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken to reiterate those recommendations. USCIRF released publications on India’s State-Level Anti-Conversion Laws, Ethnonationalism and Religious Freedom in Nigeria, and State Control of Religion in Azerbaijan, and many others. In 2023, USCIRF held hearings on Iran, Burma, Russia, Cuba, Tajikistan, Vietnam, India, and Iraq.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at media@uscirf.gov.
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MRS. JOSEPHINE BONGOS-IKWUE Mourning A Generous Giver
Bongos Ikwue’s wife Mrs. Josephine Ifeyinwa Bongos-Ikwue passes on
Words: Oyiza Adaba
Photos: Africa-Related
Otukpo, Benue State Nigeria
1949-2022
Bongos Ikwue’s wife Mrs. Josephine Ifeyinwa Bongos-Ikwue passes on.
The death has been announced of Mrs. Josephine Bongos-Ikwue - Wife, Mother, Sister, Aunt, Friend and Church/Community Leader.
Her sweet, gentle and reserved soul was the inspiration behind the creator of some of the most iconic tunes that defined Nigeria's music eras of the late 70s and 80s.
Riding High, Still Searching, Amen, What's Gonna Be, Cock Crow At Dawn etc were songs written, produced and released during her over 50-year marriage to beloved musician husband, Bongos Ikwue.
A devout Christian, she showed care for all without favour and demonstrated it through her prison ministry visits and other charitable activities. Though she originally hailed from Issele Ukwu in Delta State, she was adopted by Benue, and firmly believed in one Nigeria.
She gave selflessly to her family, church, Otukpo, Isle Ukwu, Nigeria and the world at large. is greatly missed by all of us, especially her husband and children Keke, Omei, Jessica, Onyew and JR.
Mrs. Josephine was an extra special friend and mother to us at Africa-Related; hosting us twice at their tastefully built Double K Resort in Otukpo. Our first visit was in 2008 during production of Messengers season one, which featured Bongos Ikwue. The second was a partnership that hosted the Bikers Convention delegates to an exclusive lunch and concert in 2009. Her motherly care was evident throughout.
Rest in Peace Generous Giver.
The funeral arrangements are above. If you would like to make a financial contribution or support the family with your tributes, flowers, photos, etc please visit the link below for more details.
THE BONGOS-IKWUE FAMILY
Shots from Bikers Convention with Bongos Ikwue in Otukpo (Africa-Related/2009)
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Report: Bikers Convention with Bongos Ikwue in Otukpo (Africa-Related/2009)
Messengers TV Series
Oyiza Adaba is a journalist & producer @africarelated
Tom Adaba Receives 2021 Distinguished Media and National Leadership Award
Tom Adaba Receives 2021 Distinguished Media and National Leadership Award
Words: Oyiza Adaba
Photos: T.A.L.P | INYA ODE | Africa-RelateD
Abuja, nigeria
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MEDIA AWARD
Prof. Aaze Tom Adaba Receives 2021 Distinguished Media and National Leadership Award
Nearly a year after being announced, veteran broadcaster known as the 'Father of Independent Broadcasting' in Nigeria, Prof. Aaze Tom Adaba finally received the 2021 Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) at his home in Abuja,on July 5, 2022.
The 2021 Distinguished Media and National Leadership Award was given ‘in recognition of his professional and exemplary life dedicated to the promotion of media excellence and service to the nation'.
The Ohietohueyi of Ebiraland, commended the prestigious organization for continuing this long tradition of honoring the best media minds for the last 29 years, and expressed joy that media practitioners can still come together to celebrate each other.
The NMMA Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dr. Haroun Al-Rashid Adamu and the Trustee Chief Administrator, Mr Samuel Yemi Akeju made the presentation. While reminiscing on old broadcasting days, the veteran broadcaster pledged to do more within his powers, in mentoring the next generation of broadcasters.
The Nigeria Media Merit Award is a non-profit that was established in 1990 to recognize, encourage and reward excellence in media practice in Nigeria and help build a more progressive Nigeria by fostering the bonds between the press and citizens. It does so with events like the annual award ceremony. Entries for the 2022 season just closed.
Adaba was joined by two of his children Pst. Elizabeth Gomwalk & Dr. Inya Ode, as well as his devout wife of 55 years, Mrs. Theresa Adaba - to dedicate the award to what he described as, 'The Struggle of the Nigerian and Human Condition'.
He presented copies of his upcoming book But For God, and challenged the occupants of the 4th Estate to use their voices against the odds.
The main award ceremony was held in Lokoja, Kogi State in October 2021. Prof. Adaba was unable to attend due to health reasons.
T.A.L.P works with children’s education, cultural preservation, philanthropy and advocacy
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