US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa Chairman Chris Smith Clears Way for President Trump to Impose Harsh Sanctions on Nigeria Over Killing of Christians in the West African CountryHouse Subcommittee Reaches Resolution After Wednesday Hearing on Prosecution of Christians in West African Nation, Noting Significant Worsening of Violence Against Christians in Nigeria in Recent Years. “One of our distinguished witnesses today—Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the diocese of Makurdi, Nigeria— travelled a long distance to be with us today and will testify, and this is from his testimony. Militant Fulani herdsmen are terrorists,” Mr Smith said during the hearing on Wednesday.
He said, “They steal and vandalise, they kill and boast about it, they kidnap and rape, and they enjoy total impunity from the elected officials. None of them have been arrested and brought to justice.”
Nigeria Records Alarming Rate of Christian Killings, with Nigerians Constituting 90% of Christians Killed Worldwide Annually, According to 2024 Report by Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, Highlighting the Grim Reality of Christian Persecution in Nigeria. “Make no mistake, all of these attacks are based on religion, like I said, and diverting attention from it denies what we have seen with our own eyes. This “religious cleansing” needs to stop, and the perpetrators be brought to justice,” the report noted.
Subcommittee Condemns Nigerian Government’s Failure to Protect Christians from Persecution, Despite Constitutional Guarantees of Freedom of Religion, and Decrying Instances Where Nigerian Court System Has Been Weaponized to Punish Christian Population, Undermining Justice and Equality. “Yet, 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,” the subcommittee noted in their report.
It added, “Likewise, Nigerian legal framework supports pluralism at both federal and state levels but glaring contradictions exist, especially with laws that criminalise blasphemy—some even carrying the death penalty.”Chairman Chris Smith Criticizes Previous Biden Administration for Removing Nigeria’s Country of Particular Concern Designation, Despite US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s Recommendations for Four Consecutive Years, Undermining Efforts to Address Christian Persecution in Nigeria.
Chairman Smith Urges President Trump to Take Action to Protect Christians in Nigeria, Including Placing Country on Country of Particular Concern Designation, Imposing Sanctions, and Reaching Out to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to Address Ongoing Human Rights Crisis and Ensure Justice and Equality for AllUS Lawmakers Threaten Sanctions on Nigeria if Killing of Christians Continues, Calling on Trump Administration and US Senate to Work Together to Impose Sanctions and Address Ongoing Human Rights Crisis, Ensuring Accountability and Justice for Victims of Christian Persecution in Nigeria.
“While I strongly believe that President Trump will again designate Nigeria a CPC—and do much more to assist the persecuted church including outreach to Nigerian President Tinubu —last night I reintroduced the resolution. I hope that we will have a robust discussion and that it will get marked up,” Mr Smith said. He added, “Let me also say that, and I’ll put the rest of my statement into the record, this hearing we’re hoping will be a catalyst for action by our own government and also by Congress and of course , above all, the Executive Branch. The new president has a lot to do and I think he’ll do this and then, if necessary, impose sanctions. Where that has happened, there has been change. Where it doesn’t happen, the status quo, the killing fields continue.”
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