US Congress holds hearing on Nigeria’s religious persecution, discussing Trump’s CPC redesignation and ongoing violence against Christian and Muslim communities.
The United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa held a public hearing on Thursday to examine religious persecution in Nigeria and President Donald Trump’s recent redesignation of the country as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC).
Lawmakers, human rights experts, and civil society advocates presented diverging views on the scale and nature of Nigeria’s religious and security crises.
Security Challenges Fuel Debate
Nigeria has faced repeated attacks by non-state actors, including militant herders, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and bandits. These attacks have affected both Christian and Muslim communities, particularly in the northern and Middle Belt regions.
While several speakers supported the CPC designation reserved for countries committing systematic and severe violations of religious freedom others argued that the situation is more complex than being portrayed solely as persecution of Christians.
Congressional Views
Rep. Chris Smith (R-New Jersey), chair of the panel, described the hearing as “critical” in addressing escalating violence against predominantly Christian communities. Citing Open Doors data, Smith noted that over 52,000 Christians and 34,000 moderate Muslims have been killed in extremist attacks since 2009.
“The designation is only the first step,” Smith said. “We must rigorously use every tool in the International Religious Freedom Act to support Nigerian forces, condition aid, and protect vulnerable communities.”
He called for targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, direct humanitarian aid to faith-based groups, and stricter accountability for perpetrators of violence.
Calls for Caution on Military Action
Some lawmakers expressed concern over unilateral US military threats. Rep. Sara Jacobs described Trump’s warnings of potential military action as “reckless,” arguing that violence in Nigeria is not solely religious and affects multiple communities.
She emphasized the need for the Nigerian government to strengthen protection for all citizens.
Expert Perspective: Complexity Beyond Religion
Oge Onubogu, Director and Senior Fellow of the Africa Programme at CSIS, warned against oversimplifying Nigeria’s crisis as only Christian persecution. Drawing on her experience growing up in Jos, she argued that violence is rooted in governance failures, historical grievances, resource competition, and ethnic tensions, worsened by hate speech and conspiracy theories.
“Religion, ethnicity, and language continue to shape identity more than nationality,” Onubogu said. She cautioned against reactive military interventions, urging the US to engage with communities of all faiths, support moderate leaders, and link security aid to governance reforms.
Voices from Nigeria
Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi, speaking virtually, highlighted the risks to Christians in Northern and Middle-Belt Nigeria, describing the situation as a potential threat to cultural and religious continuity. He detailed the displacement of millions, attacks on convents and parishes, and the use of sexual violence as a weapon.
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“The Church alone cannot stop the killings. Coordinated political, military, and humanitarian intervention is essential,” he said.
Split Among Lawmakers
Deputy Assistant Secretary Jacob McGee defended the CPC redesignation, noting that attackers have targeted Christians in the Middle Belt with killings, abductions, and rape. Conversely, Rep. Pramila Jayapal warned against portraying the crisis as exclusively anti-Christian, stressing the broader multi-religious context.
Congressman Bill Huizenga accused the Nigerian government of failing to act decisively to prevent ongoing attacks.
The hearing underscored the deep divisions within US policymakers on how to respond to Nigeria’s security and religious freedom challenges, balancing concerns for human rights with caution against oversimplified narratives or military intervention.
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