US Congress To Review Rising Violence Against Christians In Nigeria
By ANITA KNIGHT
THE United States House Appropriations Committee will hold a joint congressional briefing on Tuesday to examine the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria. The session will be led by Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chair Mario Díaz-Balart, alongside colleagues from the Appropriations, Foreign Affairs, and Financial Services Committees.
Representatives from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and other experts are expected to provide testimony, with the briefing aiming to highlight “escalating violence and targeted persecution of Christians in Nigeria.” The session will inform a report directed by former President Donald Trump on steps Congress can take to support vulnerable faith communities globally.
The briefing comes amid intensified US-Nigeria security discussions following a surge in terrorist attacks. President Bola Tinubu recently approved the Nigerian side of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group, to be led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and a team of senior officials, aimed at strengthening bilateral security cooperation.
The issue gained international attention after former President Trump warned of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, a claim the Nigerian government refuted, emphasizing ongoing efforts to address security challenges while upholding religious freedom.
Earlier, on November 21, the US House Subcommittee on Africa reviewed Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern, with witnesses offering varying perspectives on the violence. The upcoming briefing is expected to further shape US engagement and policy recommendations regarding security and religious rights in Nigeria.
