The United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa has granted approval for President Donald Trump to impose strict sanctions on Nigeria following the alarming rise in Christian killings across the country.
Congressional Hearing Condemns Nigerian Government
The decision came after a congressional hearing on March 12, 2025, where U.S. lawmakers strongly criticized the Nigerian government for failing to protect Christian communities from escalating violence.
During the session, the committee referenced a 2024 report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, which revealed that 90% of all Christians killed worldwide each year were Nigerians. The report further detailed that between October 2019 and September 2023, an estimated 55,910 people were killed, and 21,000 others were abducted by terrorist groups operating within the country.
Bishop Wilfred Anagbe’s Testimony Highlights Crisis
Committee Chairman Chris Smith emphasized the severity of the crisis, pointing to testimony from Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Diocese of Makurdi, Nigeria.
Smith stated:
“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.”
The hearing described these acts as religiously motivated attacks aimed at eradicating Christian communities.
Nigerian Government Criticized for Inaction
Lawmakers expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s failure to address religiously motivated violence despite constitutional guarantees for religious freedom. They also pointed out how the country’s judicial system has been weaponized to suppress Christian communities, citing blasphemy laws that disproportionately target religious minorities.
A statement from the subcommittee’s report read:
“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, glaring contradictions persist—particularly in laws that criminalize blasphemy, some of which even carry the death penalty.”
Biden Administration Blamed for Weakening Pressure on Nigeria
Chairman Smith criticized the Biden administration for removing Nigeria from the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list, a designation initially imposed under President Trump’s first term.
Despite four consecutive years (2021–2024) of recommendations from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to reinstate Nigeria’s CPC status, the Biden administration failed to act.
“Under President Biden, Nigeria was removed from the CPC list, despite overwhelming evidence that religious persecution had worsened. This decision ignored repeated USCIRF recommendations,” Smith stated.
Call for Trump to Take Decisive Action
Smith urged President Trump to reinstate Nigeria’s CPC designation and take additional steps to protect Christian communities. He also revealed that he had reintroduced a resolution on the matter, hoping it would lead to concrete actions.
“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.
The congressional approval of sanctions against Nigeria marks a significant escalation in U.S. involvement in the ongoing religious violence crisis. With international pressure mounting, the Nigerian government faces increasing scrutiny over its handling of religious persecution.
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