The United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa has given President Donald Trump the green light to impose severe sanctions on the Nigerian government over the mass killing of Christians in the country.
The resolution was reached during a hearing on Wednesday, where the committee discussed the increasing violence against Christians in Nigeria. The hearing featured testimonies, including that of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Diocese of Makurdi, who described militant Fulani herdsmen as terrorists responsible for widespread killings, kidnappings, and destruction.
Nigeria Accounts for 90% of Christians Killed Globally
The subcommittee cited a 2024 report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, which revealed that Nigerians made up 90% of Christians killed worldwide annually. According to the report, between October 2019 and September 2023, 55,910 people were killed, and 21,000 were abducted by terror groups in Nigeria.
“These attacks are clearly religiously motivated, and dismissing them as anything else ignores the obvious,” the report noted. “This ‘religious cleansing’ must stop, and those responsible must be held accountable.”
Nigerian Government Accused of Failing to Protect Christians
The subcommittee criticized the Nigerian government for failing to curb religious persecution, despite constitutional provisions guaranteeing freedom of religion. Lawmakers also highlighted concerns about the Nigerian judicial system being weaponized against the Christian population, citing blasphemy laws that carry harsh penalties, including the death sentence.
“Despite religious freedom being an essential human right enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution, the government has made little progress in protecting persecuted Christians,” the subcommittee stated.
Trump Urged to Restore Nigeria’s ‘Country of Particular Concern’ Status
Chairman of the subcommittee, Chris Smith, blamed the previous Biden administration for removing Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) despite repeated recommendations from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) between 2021 and 2024 to reinstate it.
He urged President Trump to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC and engage directly with President Bola Tinubu to address the crisis.
“While I strongly believe President Trump will act swiftly on this issue—including reinstating Nigeria as a CPC—I have also reintroduced a resolution to ensure action is taken,” Smith said.
Potential U.S. Sanctions on Nigeria
Smith also called on the U.S. Senate and the Trump administration to work together to impose sanctions if the Nigerian government fails to stop the persecution of Christians.
“If necessary, sanctions must be imposed. Where such measures have been enforced in the past, we have seen change. But where there is inaction, the killing fields continue,” Smith warned.
The hearing is expected to influence upcoming U.S. policy decisions on Nigeria, potentially leading to diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions against the Tinubu administration.
