The United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, has given President Donald Trump the green light to impose stringent sanctions on Nigeria in response to the widespread killing of Christians in the country.
The decision followed a congressional hearing on Wednesday, during which lawmakers condemned the Nigerian government for failing to protect Christian communities from escalating violence.
The committee also cited a 2024 report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, which revealed that Nigerians accounted for 90 per cent of all Christians killed worldwide each year.
The report documented that between October 2019 and September 2023, a staggering 55,910 people were killed, while 21,000 others were abducted by terrorist groups operating in the region.
During the hearing, Committee Chairman Chris Smith, who highlighted the severity of the crisis, pointed to testimony from Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Diocese of Makurdi, Nigeria, as a viable witness.
He said: “One of our distinguished witnesses today—Bishop Wilfred Anagbe—travelled a long distance to be with us, and his testimony is both compelling and disturbing.
“Militant Fulani herdsmen are terrorists. They steal and vandalise, 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.”
“Make no mistake – these attacks are religiously motivated,” the report stated, adding: “Denying this reality contradicts the overwhelming evidence we have seen with our own eyes. This ‘religious cleansing’ must stop, and those responsible must be held accountable.”
The congressional panel strongly criticised the Nigerian government for failing to address religiously motivated violence, despite constitutional protections for religious freedom.
Expressing concern that the Nigeria’s judicial system had been weaponised to suppress Christian communities, the lawmakers cited cases where blasphemy laws have been used to target religious minorities.
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“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 at both federal and state levels, glaring contradictions persist—particularly in laws that criminalise blasphemy, some of which even carry the death penalty,” the subcommittee’s report stated.
Blaming the previous administration of President Joe Biden for weakening U.S. pressure on Nigeria by removing the country from the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list, Smith said the designation was originally applied during President Trump’s first term.
He noted that despite four consecutive years of recommendations from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (2021–2024), the Biden administration had failed to reinstate Nigeria’s CPC status.
“Under President Biden, Nigeria was removed from the CPC list, despite overwhelming evidence that religious persecution had worsened. This decision ignored the repeated recommendations of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom,” he said.
He called on President Trump to take decisive action, including restoring Nigeria’s CPC designation and engaging directly with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to ensure better protection for Christian communities.
“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.
He also urged the Trump administration and the U.S. Senate to be prepared to impose sanctions on Nigeria if the violence against Christians continues.
“This hearing should serve as a catalyst for action—not just within Congress but also within the Executive Branch,” he added.
“The new president has a responsibility to act, and I believe he will. If necessary, sanctions must be imposed. When they have been used in the past, they have brought change. Where there are no consequences, the killing fields remain.”
Benue Assembly Summons Security Heads Over Breakdown of Law and Order in State
The Benue State House of Assembly, has summoned some of the governor’s aids on security matters to appear before it today, March 14, and brief it on the ongoing killings in the state.
Those invited were the Special Advisers on External Security Col. Alexander Ashungyu Rtd, Internal Security; Joe Har, Director General of the Benue Home Land security; Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan Rtd; and Commandant, Benue Civil Protection Guards, Captain Ajobi Ayuma Rtd.
The House also summoned the Special adviser on Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Denen Aondoakaa, to also appear on the same day to provide concrete explanations regarding the funding of security at the local government level.
The House condemned in totality the attacks and killing of innocent Benue citizens by armed herdsmen and the mob action of protesters, which resulted in the destruction of valuable properties in Naka instead of channeling their energies in repelling the marauding herdsmen.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by the member representing Katsina-Ala West State Constituency, Hon. Bemdoo Ipusu, informing the assembly of the renewed attacks and killings of innocent Benue citizens by armed herdsmen.
Ipusu noted that the suspected killer herdsmen wreaked havoc on Imande-Gbehuwar in Mbagena Kpaav, Dikpo and Mbasende in Tiir and Michie Council Wards of Katsina-Ala Local Government as well the attacks on several communities in Gwer West Local Government Area where many people lost their lives and properties were destroyed.
He said the reaction to the suspected armed herdsmen by angry residents of Naka led to the burning down of the local government headquarters and the residence of Ter Tyoshin, Chief Daniel Abomtse, and properties belonging to other prominent sons of the area and urged the house to summon the security heads to appear unfailingly.
Seconding the motion, Minority leader of house Rt. Hon. Michael Audu, decried the level of attacks by herdsmen and said if not properly checked, it would lead to a breakdown of law and order, food insecurity, and widespread displacement of communities.
The House also received the report of the Auditor General for Local Government on the Accounts of the 23 local governments of Benue State of Nigeria for the year ended 31st December, 2021, and the report of the Auditor General for Local Government on the Accounts of the 23 local governments of Benue State of Nigeria for the year ended 31st December, 2022, presented by Rt. Hon. Anthony Agom, Chairman House Standing Committee on Public Accounts
