US lawmakers, Nigerian Reps hold fresh sessions over rising insecurity

Committees of the United States Congress on Tuesday in Washington DC held a joint briefing over the ongoing kidnappings and the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

The session was held at the instance of President Donald Trump, who earlier on October 31 instructed the House Appropriations Committee to investigate what he described as the slaughter of Christians in Nigeria and report their findings to the White House.

Separately, the Nigerian House of Representatives will also debate the state of security in the country on Wednesday (today).

The Congress session, led by House Appropriations Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chairman Mario Díaz-Balart, brought together members of the House Appropriations and House Foreign Affairs Committees alongside religious freedom experts.

Participants included Reps Robert Aderholt, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Chris Smith, US Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair Vicky Hartzler, Alliance Defending Freedom International’s Sean Nelson, and Dr Ebenezer Obadare of the Council on Foreign Relations.

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Díaz-Balart began the briefing by describing global religious freedom as “both a moral obligation and an essential American interest.” He emphasised that “no one should have to fear for their safety because of how they choose to worship.”

He said he is “committed to advancing policies that protect the freedom to live according to one’s faith without fear of violence and retribution.”

Díaz-Balart noted that his FY26 funding bill addresses this commitment and added that he plans to reinforce these efforts by passing a full-year funding measure, which he noted is critical to advancing the America First agenda.

Aderholt echoed the same concerns, calling the situation in Nigeria “a crisis that can’t be ignored.”

He said, “We must stand firmly with Nigeria’s Christian communities and all persecuted believers worldwide, and I commend our collaborative efforts to provide the President with the information needed to confront this growing tragedy.”

Moore connected the briefing to the administration’s recent re-designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.

The Congressman explained, “Our brothers and sisters in Christ are being persecuted and slaughtered in Nigeria simply for professing their faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. ‘’The world will no longer turn a blind eye to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.”

Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mast framed the violence as part of a broader campaign.

“This is a targeted campaign of religious cleansing,” he said, arguing that extremist groups aim to “drive Christians out of their ancestral lands in the Middle Belt.”

He urged the Nigerian government to “disarm these militias, return displaced families to their homes, and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

In his remarks, House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee Chairman Smith described Nigeria as “the ground zero of religious violence,” saying Christians and moderate Muslims face “the constant threat of murder, rape, and torture.”

He criticised the Nigerian government for allowing perpetrators to act “with complete impunity,” adding, “We must act quickly and decisively to save more lives.”

Expert witnesses described an atmosphere of insecurity affecting multiple religious communities.

Hartzler cited recent attacks, including the November abduction of more than 300 children and 12 teachers from a Catholic school. “Religious freedom in Nigeria has been under siege in 2025 and, unfortunately, it seems to be getting worse,” she said.

The USCIRF chair called for improved accountability from the Nigerian authorities and better use of US security assistance and early warning systems. “Too many times, local villagers learn of an impending attack and reach out for protection, only to have their cries for help ignored,” she said.

Nelson detailed accounts from Christian communities, who described kidnappings, forced conversions, and deadly attacks.

“Our cases have involved Christians unjustly imprisoned by Sharia courts, false allegations of crimes merely for evangelism or protecting Christian converts; Christians kidnapped and tortured. I have visited villages directly attacked by Fulani militants and witnessed the aftermath of pastors beheaded, mass graves, widows and orphans,” he said.

He argued that authorities downplayed the role of religion in the attacks and highlighted Nigeria’s blasphemy laws, which in some states permit the death penalty.

Also, Obadare identified Boko Haram as the central driver of the violence. “The deadliest and most serious threat confronting the Nigerian state today is jihadist terror,” he insisted.

He noted recent Nigerian military actions following renewed US pressure, but urged Washington to maintain leverage.

“The policy goal should be two-fold: first, work with the Nigerian military to neutralise Boko Haram. Second, the United States should put pressure on President Tinubu to make Sharia law unconstitutional in the 12 Northern states where it has been adopted since 2000 and disband the various Hisbah groups.”

Committee officials said they are preparing a comprehensive report for President Trump with recommendations on how Congress can support the administration’s efforts to curb religious persecution in Nigeria and elsewhere.

The briefing comes amid strengthened US–Nigeria security cooperation. President Bola Tinubu recently approved Nigeria’s delegation to the new US–Nigeria Joint Working Group, established to implement security agreements from high-level talks in Washington led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

The group, which includes senior ministers and security officials, aims to enhance counterterrorism efforts, intelligence sharing, border security, and coordination on humanitarian and civilian security issues.

The initiative followed rising concerns over terrorism, banditry, and targeted attacks on Christians in Nigeria, prompting increased US scrutiny and warnings about the protection of vulnerable faith communities.

On November 20, the US House Subcommittee on Africa opened a public hearing to review Trump’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, a move that places the country under increased scrutiny for alleged religious-freedom violations.

Lawmakers gathered to assess the potential consequences of the designation, which, if affirmed by the Senate, could clear the way for sanctions against Nigerian officials found complicit in religious persecution.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is expected to begin debate on the state of security in the country on Wednesday (today).

The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, disclosed this on Tuesday while presiding over the day’s plenary.

The Punch