US Lawmakers Intensify Probe Into Targeted Violence Against Christians In Nigeria

In a move that underscores rising concern in Washington, key members of the US House Appropriations and Foreign Affairs Committees held an unusual joint briefing on Tuesday to address what they describe as a pattern of escalating and targeted attacks against Christians in Nigeria. The session forms a major step in a broader congressional investigation ordered by former President Donald Trump, who tasked lawmakers with producing a detailed report on recent massacres and possible US responses.

The briefing was led by House Appropriations Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chairman Mario Díaz-Balart of Florida. It follows Trump’s directive to Congress, spearheaded by Reps Riley Moore of West Virginia and Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole of Oklahoma, to probe Christian persecution in Nigeria. Trump has publicly floated the possibility of direct US military action against Islamist attackers.

Vicky Hartzler, chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, told lawmakers that religious freedom in Nigeria was “under siege,” pointing to mass abductions, including the kidnapping of more than 300 children, and attacks where radical extremists raze churches and wipe out entire Christian communities. She said violations were widespread, violent and disproportionately targeted Christians at a rate of “2.2 to 1” compared with Muslims.

Hartzler acknowledged that Nigeria had taken some preliminary steps, such as reassigning about 100,000 police officers away from VIP security duties, yet warned that the country was entering a “coordinated and deeply troubling period of escalated violence.” She called for targeted sanctions against Nigerian officials complicit in abuses, visa bans, restrictions on US-based assets and conditions on American aid tied to measurable accountability. She also urged Congress to mandate a Government Accountability Office review of past US assistance and pressed Abuja to reclaim villages seized by extremist groups so displaced Christian families could return.

Dr Ebenezer Obadare of the Council on Foreign Relations challenged claims by Nigerian authorities that the violence is not religiously motivated. He said the idea that Boko Haram and other jihadist groups target both faiths equally is a “myth,” insisting they operate solely on religious grounds. Any higher Muslim death toll, he argued, reflected regional geography rather than balanced targeting. Obadare described the Nigerian military as “too corrupt and incompetent” to dismantle extremist networks without sustained external pressure and urged the US to demand action against armed groups enforcing Islamic law, curb corruption within security agencies and insist on rapid responses to early warnings of attacks.

Sean Nelson of Alliance Defending Freedom International said Nigeria remains “the deadliest country in the world for Christians,” claiming more Christian deaths occur there than in every other country combined and at a rate “five times higher” than Muslims after adjusting for population. He noted that extremists also kill Muslims who reject extremist ideology, undermining the narrative that the crisis is driven solely by criminality or communal conflict.

With more than 230 million citizens, Nigeria’s religious map is sharply defined, with about 120 million Muslims in the north and roughly 90 million Christians in the south. Nelson urged Congress to tighten oversight on US assistance, including directing some aid through faith-based groups to reduce corruption. He also called for greater transparency in how Nigeria manages mass kidnappings and ransom payments, arguing that meaningful change requires strong and persistent external pressure.

Díaz-Balart criticised the Biden administration for removing Nigeria from the US list of “countries of particular concern” in 2021, saying the reversal had “clearly deadly consequences.” Members of the Appropriations, Foreign Affairs and Financial Services Committees signalled further oversight actions as they prepare the Trump-directed report for Congress.

Hartzler noted that Nigeria had recently shown signs of shifting its approach. She cited President Bola Tinubu’s decision to redeploy about 100,000 police officers from VIP protection to critical areas nationwide, describing it as a “promising start after years of neglect.” She added that comments by Nigeria’s House Speaker, who acknowledged a “deeply troubling period of escalated violence” along with calls from the House majority leader for intensified legislative oversight, could signal a growing recognition of the crisis within Nigeria’s political leadership.

However, she warned that these steps remain insufficient. Hartzler stressed that Abuja must show real intent to “quell injustice,” act swiftly when early warning signs emerge and demonstrate transparency if recent measures are to translate into genuine progress.

The Nigerian Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.