Nigeria is under scrutiny from US President Donald Trump, who in early November threatened military action over the treatment of Christians in the country. Nigeria says claims that Christians face persecution misrepresent a complex security situation and do not take into account efforts to safeguard religious freedom.

The senior official leading the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs Jonathan Pratt says the Trump administration is developing a plan to incentivize and compel the Nigerian government to better protect Christian communities and improve religious freedom.