NEWS
U.S Congress Reaffirms Commitment to Combating Christian Persecution in Nigeria, Declares “We Won’t Look Away as Innocent Lives Are Stolen”
The United States House Appropriations Committee has sent a strong message of solidarity to Christians facing persecution in Nigeria, reaffirming its commitment to addressing religious violence worldwide. In a statement posted on its official X account on Wednesday, the committee declared that America “will not look away as innocent lives are stolen,” highlighting the protection of religious freedom as a central priority.
The statement emphasized that the issue of religious freedom is a key component of the National Security and Related Programs (NSRP) bill.
“Directed by @POTUS, Appropriators led an on-the-ground mission to inform a report on Christian persecution in Nigeria and guide policy recommendations,” the committee wrote, further adding that “religious freedom and atrocity response are central to our NSRP bill.”
This reaffirmation comes on the heels of a fact-finding mission to Nigeria by a delegation of US appropriators, conducted under the directive of former President Donald Trump. The visit aimed to assess the state of religious violence in Nigeria and provide lawmakers with the insight necessary to shape future congressional actions.
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, confirmed on Sunday that he hosted the US delegation, describing the visit as part of ongoing security consultations between both countries.
According to Ribadu, the discussions built on prior meetings in Washington and focused on “counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability,” as well as strengthening an already “strategic security partnership.”
Rep. Riley Moore, a member of the visiting delegation, described the trip as “a very productive visit to Nigeria” in a post on X. During the mission, Moore met with Tiv and Catholic leaders in Benue State, one of the regions most affected by recurrent violence, underscoring the US delegation’s engagement with local communities directly impacted by religious conflict.
The congressional visit comes amid rising diplomatic tensions following the Trump administration’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, citing alleged violations of religious freedom. The move reignited debate over potential consequences, including the possibility of increased US intervention.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has consistently rejected these allegations, emphasizing that insecurity in the country affects citizens of all faiths. In related developments, on November 20, Ribadu met with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon to discuss coordinated strategies to address Nigeria’s security challenges. That same day, the US House Subcommittee on Africa held a public hearing to examine the implications of the redesignation and consider next steps.
With these developments, the US Congress has made it clear that protecting religious freedom in Nigeria is a priority on the global stage, signaling ongoing scrutiny of human rights conditions and a commitment to international collaboration in combating religious persecution.