Lagos, Nigeria — Lawrence Zhongo, a farmer from Plateau State, mourns the loss of friends and relatives due to escalating communal violence in Nigeria’s central region, particularly following deadly attacks in Zike and Bokkos villages. Despite the U.S. government’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations, many Nigerians, including Zhongo, reject foreign intervention, blaming their own government for inadequate security. The ongoing conflict involves both Christian farmers and Muslim herders, with casualties on both sides. As violence disrupts livelihoods, Zhongo expresses a complex view of the crisis, acknowledging the shared suffering among different religious communities.
