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Jonathan Pratt

Jonathan Pratt

Senior Official, U.S. State Department Bureau of African Affairs

Appears in 1 story

Notable Quotes

Pratt told lawmakers that the Trump administration’s goal is to “incentivize and compel the Nigerian government to better protect Christian communities and improve religious freedom,” signaling that sanctions and security cooperation will be calibrated to Abuja’s performance.

Stories

Papiri school mass kidnapping and partial release in northern Nigeria

Force in Play

Key architect of proposed U.S. sanctions and security pressure on Nigeria

On November 21, 2025, armed men abducted 315 people—303 pupils and 12 staff—from St. Mary's Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State. Around 50 children later escaped, but the mass abduction was one of Nigeria's largest since Chibok in 2014 and sparked national outrage that exposed deep security failures. U.S. officials weighed sanctions to pressure Nigeria to protect Christian communities and other civilians targeted in northern violence.

Updated 6 days ago