U.S. Committee Demands Sanctions Against Nigeria for Christian Persecution

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa has urged that Nigeria be reinstated as a country of particular concern and face sanctions due to widespread Christian persecution, following a March 12 hearing. This recommendation comes after the Biden Administration had previously removed Nigeria from the list.

Lawmakers strongly rebuked the Nigerian government for its failure to protect Christian communities from escalating violence, as highlighted by numerous human rights groups.

A 2024 report from the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa indicates that Nigeria accounts for 90% of the global annual Christian deaths, documenting 55,910 killings and 21,000 abductions from October 2019 to September 2023.

During the hearing, Committee Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ) cited the dire situation described by Bishop Wilfred Anagbe from Makurdi, stating, “Militant Fulani herdsmen are terrorists. They steal and vandalize, 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.” Both Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), along with Islamic Fulani militants, are significantly targeting Christians, particularly in the north.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) criticized Nigerian security forces’ failure to halt these attacks and noted some local officials’ complicity. The committee emphasized, “Make no mistake — these attacks are religiously motivated. This ‘religious cleansing’ must stop, and those responsible must be held accountable.”

Further criticism was directed at the Biden administration for removing Nigeria from the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list, a status reserved for countries with severe violations of religious freedom, established under President Trump in 2020.

Chairman Smith called on President Trump to reengage Nigeria’s CPC designation and to press Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for better protection of Christian communities, stating, “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.”

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