US House Appropriations Committee Reaffirms Commitment to Religious Freedom in Nigeria
The United States House Appropriations Committee has reiterated America’s resolve to address global religious persecution, emphasizing Nigeria, in a statement shared on its official X account on Wednesday.
“America will not look away as innocent lives are stolen. Directed by @POTUS, Appropriators led an on-the-ground mission to inform a report on Christian persecution in Nigeria and guide policy recommendations. Religious freedom and atrocity response are central to our NSRP bill,” the committee stated.
The announcement followed a visit to Nigeria by a delegation of US lawmakers, led by Congressman Riley Moore, under the direction of President Donald Trump. The mission, confirmed by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, aimed to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation, enhance regional stability, and reinforce the strategic security partnership between the two countries.
During his visit, Moore met with Tiv and Catholic leaders in Benue State and visited camps housing internally displaced persons (IDPs). He described the humanitarian situation he witnessed as deeply distressing.
“I met dozens of Christians who were forced from their homes, subjected to horrific violence, and now live in IDP camps,” Moore wrote on X.
He recounted the victims’ testimonies: “One woman was forced to watch her husband and five children being killed. She and her unborn child barely survived. Another woman shared that her family was murdered before her eyes, and her baby was ripped from her womb. A man told me his family was hacked to death in front of him, leaving his arm permanently mangled.”
Moore estimated that over 600,000 Christians currently reside in IDP camps in Benue State, a region long affected by violent clashes between farming communities and armed groups. He urged international attention, writing, “These Christians should be able to live in their ancestral homeland without fear of genocidal Fulani attacks.”
The congressman also met with traditional and religious leaders, including Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, Bishop Isaac Dugu, and James Ioruza, the Tiv traditional ruler. He described these discussions as “an honour and deeply moving,” focusing on what he termed the ongoing genocidal campaign by Fulani herdsmen in Benue State.
Moore noted that his meetings with Nigerian authorities, including Ribadu, centered on terrorism in the North-East and attacks in the Middle Belt—issues he said are priorities for both President Trump and himself. He commended Nigeria for rescuing more than 100 abducted Catholic schoolchildren and highlighted the establishment of a joint Nigeria-US task force as a positive step.
“Now, that openness has to translate to concrete action,” Moore emphasized, adding that “there is much work still to be done.”
The US delegation’s visit comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions following the Trump administration’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious freedom violations, accompanied by warnings of potential US military involvement.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected claims of systemic persecution, asserting that insecurity affects citizens of all faiths. Prior engagements included Ribadu’s November 20 visit to the Pentagon, where US officials discussed coordinated strategies to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
On the same day, the US House Subcommittee on Africa held a public hearing on the implications of Nigeria’s redesignation. Last week, House Republicans further expressed concerns about religious violence in Nigeria during a joint briefing ordered by President Trump.
