US Congress Addresses Persecution of Christians in Nigeria

The ongoing violence against Christians in N-igeria, which is regarded as the deadliest nation for Christians, has drawn increased attention from the US Congress in 2025. According to organizations like Open Doors and the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, N-igeria is responsible for the majority of Christian killings worldwide each year, with tens of thousands since 2009 and over 7,000 murders in 2025 alone an average of 35 per day.

Millions of people have been displaced, thousands of churches have been destroyed, and communities have been targeted during holy days like Christmas and Easter massacres by attacks by Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, and Fulani militants.

The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, led by Rep., held a hearing in March 2025 that marked the start of important discussions. Chris Smith (NJ, R). Calls for sanctions against N-igeria were sparked by witnesses, such as N-igerian Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, who testified to systematic killings and government inaction. The subcommittee criticized the previous Biden administration for removing N-igeria from the “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) list in spite of evidence and urged President Donald Trump to impose penalties.

Due to “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom,” Trump redesigned Nigeria as a CPC in October 2025, allowing for diplomatic and commercial actions. This led to additional action: On November 7, Rep. H was introduced by Riley Moore (R-WV). Res. 866, denouncing the persecution and endorsing Trump’s use of all available means to defend Christians, including economic, diplomatic, humanitarian, and security. Cosponsored by more than twenty Republicans, the resolution draws attention to N-igerian officials’ disregard for warnings and their intentional religious cleansing.

The House Subcommittee on Africa held a crucial hearing yesterday, November 20, 2025. Presided over by Rep. Smith, it looked at Trump’s CPC ruling and included statements from advocates, State Department representatives, and N-igerian clergy. While some legislators cautioned against oversimplifying the violence, others, like Rep., argued that it should be framed as targeted genocide rather than a larger conflict. N-igeria was charged with complicity by Bill Huizenga.

Under President Bola Tinubu, N-igeria’s government rejects the narrative, claiming that resource disputes and banditry, not religion, are the root causes of violence. However, there is growing congressional support for accountability, including possible sanctions and aid requirements. These discussions highlight America’s responsibility to protect religious freedom in the face of a crisis that is killing thousands of people.