Following a massacre at a Catholic church in Nigeria, a top US State Department official visited with a local bishop, according to Rep. Chris Smith’s office.
After Smith, a Republican from New Jersey, expressed worry about the safety of Christians in Nigeria, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland visited with Bishop Jude Arogundade.
“The meeting took place as Congressman Smith requested, and we understand that the opportunity to raise concerns was met,” Michael Finan, Smith’s press secretary, told CNA.
Smith released a statement June 15 about a letter he sent, urging Nuland to meet with Arogundade during her trip to that country.
“In the aftermath of the horrific attack that took place on June 5 at the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Owo, Ondo State, and in advance of your upcoming visit to Nigeria,” Smith wrote, “I ask that you make time in your schedule to meet with Bishop Arogundade of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo.”
The statement comes in the wake of the massacre, where 40 people were confirmed dead and more than 60 injured.
Smith wrote that “the attack indicates the southward migration of terror towards Christian-majority regions as well as Nigeria’s oil-producing areas.”
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with over 216 million people, is of “outsized importance” to West Africa, according to Smith, who also stated that growing violence against Christians can no longer be overlooked.
The State Department had overlooked Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern in its annual International Religious Freedom Report before the slaughter in the Diocese of Ondo.
Smith cited troubling data from Open Doors USA, a network that helps persecuted Christians, in the news release. According to the Religious Freedom Watch, a Christian is killed every two hours in Nigeria for practicing his or her faith. This equates to about 13 Christians being slain per day, or 372 every month.
According to Open Doors, Nigeria accounted for nearly 80% of Christian deaths worldwide last year.
Smith’s office will continue to work with Arogundade, according to Finan.