U.S. Lawmakers Intensify Probe Into Alleged Anti-Christian Atrocities in Nigeria

A fresh round of hearings in Washington has intensified pressure on Abuja, as U.S. lawmakers examined claims of a rising “Christian genocide” in Nigeria and debated the country’s re-designation as a Country of Particular Concern. What unfolded carried the measured tension of a diplomatic standoff, as testimonies from security experts, religious leaders, and senior American officials painted a stark picture of ongoing violence. During a public session of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Representative Chris Smith, who chaired the hearing, cautioned that religious freedom in Nigeria “must be proven,” urging authorities in Abuja to confront the crisis with greater resolve. State Department officials Jacob McGee and Jonathan Pratt laid out assessments that have troubled Washington for months. Pratt stressed that “lives and properties of Nigerian citizens should be well secured irrespective of the location they reside in,” while warning that thousands of Christians have been killed in recent years. Oge Onubogu of the Center for Strategic and International Studies added that the violence, although complex, has reached a scale that “demands urgent action.” But perhaps the most sobering remarks came from Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Makurdi Catholic Diocese, who described Nigeria as “the deadliest place on earth to be a Christian.” According to him, “more believers are killed there annually than in the rest of the world combined, yet perpetrators face little accountability.” The congressional hearing was followed by a closed-door meeting between U.S. Congressman Riley Moore and a Nigerian government delegation led by National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Moore later described their discussions as “frank, honest, and productive,” centered on counter terrorism efforts and the protection of vulnerable communities. He pressed Nigeria to show “tangible steps” to ensure that Christians are not subjected to “violence, persecution, displacement, and death simply for believing in our Lord and Saviour.” Back home, Abuja has rejected the allegations and the CPC designation in firm terms. President Bola Tinubu insisted that the characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant “does not reflect our national reality,” and Information Minister Mohammed Idris dismissed the genocide claims as foreign-driven misrepresentations. Idris maintained that “there is no deliberate effort by government to single out a particular religion for genocide,” citing recent successes against violent groups. Critics within Nigeria have urged caution, warning that reducing the country’s layered security crisis to a purely religious conflict could inflame deeper divisions. Commentary from within the country has argued that framing the violence as a Christian genocide is “an extremely dangerous path” that risks worsening tensions. As the U.S. Senate prepares to review the CPC designation, both nations find themselves navigating a delicate moment. The final outcome could redefine security cooperation and diplomatic engagement, particularly as Washington weighs whether Nigeria has done enough to curb violence and protect all its citizens.

| 2025-11-21 10:50:42