Committees of the United States Congress met in Washington on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing kidnappings and alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria. The meeting followed President Donald Trump’s October 31 directive instructing the House Appropriations Committee to investigate what he called the “slaughter of Christians” in the country and report back to the White House.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s House of Representatives is set to debate the nation’s security challenges today (Wednesday).
The US briefing was led by House Appropriations Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chairman Mario DÃaz-Balart, and included members of the Appropriations and Foreign Affairs Committees as well as prominent experts on religious freedom.
Participants included Reps Robert Aderholt, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Chris Smith, USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler, ADF International’s Sean Nelson and CFR’s Dr Ebenezer Obadare.
DÃaz-Balart described global religious freedom as both a moral duty and a key US interest, stressing that no one should face violence for their faith. He highlighted that his FY26 funding bill was designed to support this commitment.
Aderholt called the situation in Nigeria “a crisis that can’t be ignored,” while Moore linked the discussions to the administration’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, citing the killing of Christians.
Foreign Affairs Chairman Mast labelled the violence a “targeted campaign of religious cleansing,” urging the Nigerian government to dismantle militias and restore displaced people to their homes.
Africa Subcommittee Chairman Smith described Nigeria as “ground zero of religious violence” and criticised the government for allowing attackers to act with impunity.
Experts gave grim accounts of worsening insecurity. Hartzler referenced recent high-profile kidnappings, including the abduction of hundreds of children and staff from a Catholic school in November. Nelson detailed cases involving forced conversions, kidnappings, attacks by Fulani militants, and the use of blasphemy laws that in some northern states carry the death penalty.
Obadare identified Boko Haram as the main driver of violence and urged the US to maintain pressure on Nigeria, including pushing President Tinubu to make Sharia law unconstitutional in the 12 northern states where it has been implemented since 2000.
Committee officials said a report with recommendations for President Trump is underway as both countries deepen security cooperation. Tinubu recently approved Nigeria’s delegation to the US–Nigeria Joint Working Group aimed at enhancing counterterrorism and intelligence efforts.
The renewed scrutiny follows rising terrorism, banditry and targeted attacks on Christians. On November 20, the US House Subcommittee on Africa held a public hearing on Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern—an action that could, if upheld, allow sanctions against complicit Nigerian officials.
Back in Nigeria, the House of Representatives will today begin debating the worsening security situation. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu confirmed this during Tuesday’s plenary.
The report on the state police bill is also expected to be laid this month, according to Mansur Soro, a member of the Constitution Review Committee. The bill, already adopted by the joint committees of both chambers, will go to state Houses of Assembly for ratification if passed by the National Assembly.
Several lawmakers, including Marcus Onobun and Bamidele Salam, reiterated strong support for establishing state police, arguing that decentralised policing is essential for tackling localised insecurity.
In Abuja, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday met behind closed doors with Service Chiefs and security heads, hours after nominating former Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.) as Minister of Defence. The meeting followed Tinubu’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency last week, which included plans to recruit 20,000 new police officers, deploy forest guards and improve protection for schools and places of worship.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti was also seen arriving at the Presidential Villa during the discussions.
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