US House of Representatives Calls for Sanctions on Nigeria for Persecuting Christians

The U.S. House of Representatives is urging President Trump to impose sanctions on Nigeria amid rising violence against Christians. This call stems from a congressional hearing discussing severe religious persecution and the lack of protection for Christians by the Nigerian government. Lawmakers emphasize the need for Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern to be reinstated, reflecting the urgency of addressing the ongoing crisis.

The United States House of Representatives has urged President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Nigeria due to the rising violence against Christians. This call came during a congressional hearing addressing the severe religious persecution occurring in the nation, where numerous lawmakers and experts highlighted the alarming frequency of attacks against Christians and other minority groups.

During the session, legislators expressed dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s decision to revoke Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). Representative Chris Smith, who initiated the discussion, pointed out the inconsistency in this reversal, stating that it was made without proper justification. He indicated that religious leaders in Nigeria were profoundly disturbed by Secretary Blinken’s actions.

Representative Smith, the author of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act, criticized the Nigerian government for its inability to protect its Christian citizens, which contradicts the nation’s constitutional promises of religious freedom. He emphasized, “The Government of Nigeria has failed to make progress against religiously motivated persecution of Christians despite religious freedom being enshrined as an essential human right in its Constitution.”

He underlined the distressing statistics regarding violence in Nigeria, referencing Genocide Watch’s characterization of the situation: “Genocide Watch has called Nigeria ‘a killing field of defenseless Christians.’” This statistic highlights the tragic toll of approximately 52,000 targeted killings of Christians and 34,000 moderate non-Fulani Muslims since 2009. Furthermore, Smith mentioned that nearly five million people, predominantly Christians, have been displaced, seeking refuge in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee had previously advanced Smith’s resolution, H. Res. 82, which aimed to urge the Biden administration to reinstate Nigeria’s CPC designation. Despite this, the resolution did not progress to a vote on the House floor. In response, Smith reintroduced the resolution as H. Res. 220 on March 11, 2025, expressing hope that President Trump would take decisive action.

During the hearing titled “Conflict and Persecution in Nigeria: The Case for a CPC Designation,” testimonies were presented by religious leaders and policy experts. Bishop Wilfred Anagbe voiced concerns regarding a systematic effort to eradicate Christianity in Nigeria, stating that the malaise had persisted across multiple administrations, leading to severe exclusion and violence against Christians.

Nina Shea, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, affirmed Nigeria’s troubling status as the most perilous country for Christians globally, stating, “Nigeria is a country of superlatives—Africa’s most populous country, its largest economy and, alarmingly, the entire world’s deadliest country for Christians.” She underscored the escalating threat from militant groups that target Christians, especially in vulnerable agricultural communities.

Tony Perkins, former Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, critiqued media coverage of the crisis, arguing that it often minimizes the ongoing violence. He remarked, “In Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, vicious attacks and bloodshed continue to surge, week after week, month after month. Christians are the primary targets of this terrorism,” echoing the sentiment that significant action is necessary to mitigate the atrocities.

In conclusion, the United States House of Representatives has formally called on President Trump to impose sanctions on Nigeria, highlighting a growing concern over the ongoing persecution of Christians. Key testimonies and evidence presented during a congressional hearing emphasize the dire situation faced by Christians in Nigeria, exposed to rampant violence and systemic exclusion. With legislative efforts underway to amend Nigeria’s status to a Country of Particular Concern, the pressure mounts for the U.S. administration to take significant action in response to these humanitarian crises.

Original Source: saharareporters.com