U.S. Lawmakers Back Sanctions on Nigeria Over Christian Killings
The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa has authorized President Donald Trump to impose strict sanctions on Nigeria over the widespread killing of Christians in the country.
The decision followed a congressional hearing on Wednesday, March 12, where lawmakers condemned the Nigerian government for failing to protect Christian communities from escalating violence.
Citing a 2024 report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, the committee highlighted that Nigerians account for 90% of all Christians killed globally each year. The report documented that between October 2019 and September 2023, 55,910 people were killed, while 21,000 others were abducted by terrorist groups.
Committee Chairman Chris Smith underscored the severity of the crisis, referencing testimony from Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Diocese of Makurdi.
He said: “One of our distinguished witnesses today—Bishop Wilfred Anagbe—travelled a long distance to be with us, and his testimony is both compelling and disturbing.
“Militant Fulani herdsmen are terrorists. They steal and vandalise, they kill and boast about it, they kidnap and rape, and they enjoy total impunity from elected officials. None of them have been arrested or brought to justice.”
“Make no mistake – these attacks are religiously motivated,” the report stated, adding: “Denying this reality contradicts the overwhelming evidence we have seen with our own eyes. This ‘religious cleansing’ must stop, and those responsible must be held accountable.”
The panel strongly criticized the Nigerian government’s inaction despite constitutional protections for religious freedom.
Lawmakers also expressed concern over Nigeria’s judicial system, alleging it had been weaponized against Christian communities, with blasphemy laws used to target religious minorities.
“The Government of Nigeria has made little progress in addressing the persecution of Christians, even though religious freedom is enshrined as a fundamental human right in its Constitution.
“While Nigeria’s legal framework ostensibly supports religious pluralism at both federal and state levels, glaring contradictions persist—particularly in laws that criminalise blasphemy, some of which even carry the death penalty,” the subcommittee’s report stated.
Blaming former U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration for easing pressure on Nigeria, Smith pointed out that the country was removed from the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list, a designation initially applied during President Trump’s first term.
Despite four consecutive years of recommendations from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (2021–2024), the Biden administration failed to reinstate Nigeria’s CPC status.
“Under President Biden, Nigeria was removed from the CPC list, despite overwhelming evidence that religious persecution had worsened. This decision ignored the repeated recommendations of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom,” he said.
Smith urged President Trump to take decisive action, including restoring the designation and engaging directly with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to ensure better protection for Christian communities.
“I fully expect President Trump to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC and to take additional steps to support the persecuted church. Last night, I reintroduced a resolution on this issue, and I hope we will have a robust discussion that leads to real action,” he added.
