America won’t ignore killings in Nigeria — US Congress

US President Donald Trump. | Photo: AFP

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The United States House Appropriations Committee reaffirmed the country’s commitment to addressing religious persecution globally, specifically in Nigeria, through a message posted on its official X account on Wednesday.

“America will not look away as innocent lives are stolen.

“Directed by @POTUS, Appropriators led an on-the-ground mission to inform a report on Christian persecution in Nigeria and guide policy recommendations.

“Religious freedom and atrocity response are central to our NSRP bill,” the committee’s statement read.

The statement came after a delegation of appropriators, under the direction of President Donald Trump, conducted an on-the-ground mission to Nigeria.

On Sunday, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, confirmed that he hosted a US delegation as part of ongoing security consultations between the two nations.

Ribadu explained that the visit followed previous engagements in Washington, DC, and focused on key areas such as “counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability,” and efforts to “strengthen the strategic security partnership between Nigeria and the United States.”

A member of the delegation, Rep. Riley Moore, took to his X account to describe the trip as a “very productive visit to Nigeria.”

During his time in the country, Moore also met with Tiv and Catholic leaders in Benue State.

The visit came during heightened diplomatic tensions after the Trump administration redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious freedom violations, a move accompanied by warnings of possible US military intervention.

The Federal Government has repeatedly rejected claims of systemic persecution of Christians, insisting that insecurity affects citizens of all faiths.

On November 20, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted Ribadu at the Pentagon to discuss coordinated strategies to address the country’s security crisis.

The same day, the US House Subcommittee on Africa held a public hearing to examine the implications of the redesignation.

Last Tuesday, House Republicans raised fresh concerns about religious violence in Nigeria during a joint briefing ordered by President Trump, who on October 31 directed Moore and the House Appropriations Committee to investigate what he described as the slaughter of Christians and report back to the White House.

The PUNCH journalist, Gift, has over three years of experience covering elections, security and foreign affairs.

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