US Congress reopens inquiry into alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, report headed to Trump

Committees of the United States Congress on Tuesday in Washington held a joint briefing over the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, amid renewed tensions following President Donald Trump’s redesignation of the country as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for religious freedom violations and his threat of possible military action.

The session was convened at the instance of President Trump, who had earlier instructed the House Appropriations Committee to investigate what he described as the slaughter of Christians in Nigeria and report its findings to the White House.

The Republican president had a few weeks earlier redesignated Nigeria as a CPC, a label reserved for the world’s worst violators of religious freedom, and warned that military options were not off the table in Africa’s most populous nation over what his administration alleges is a Christian genocide.

Nigeria was first designated a CPC in 2020 during Trump’s first term, but former President Joe Biden lifted the designation months later, drawing sharp criticism from conservative lawmakers and some religious freedom advocates. The latest move has revived fierce debate in Washington over how to interpret Nigeria’s deepening insecurity.

Read also: Christian genocide claim: Nigerians call for caution as reactions trail Trump’s clamp down

The congressional session, led by House Appropriations Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chairman Mario Díaz-Balart, brought together members of the House Appropriations and House Foreign Affairs Committees, alongside religious freedom experts.

Participants included Reps Robert Aderholt, Riley Moore, Brian Mast and Chris Smith; US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Vicky Hartzler; Alliance Defending Freedom International’s Sean Nelson; and Ebenezer Obadare of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Opening the briefing, Díaz-Balart described global religious freedom as “both a moral obligation and an essential American interest,” insisting that “no one should have to fear for their safety because of how they choose to worship.” The lawmaker said he remains “committed to advancing policies that protect the freedom to live according to one’s faith without fear of violence and retribution.”

He disclosed that his FY26 funding bill already reflects that commitment and added that he intends to “reinforce these efforts by passing a full-year funding measure,” which he said is critical to advancing the administration’s America First agenda.

Aderholt echoed similar concerns, calling the situation in Nigeria “a crisis that can’t be ignored.” He said, “We must stand firmly with Nigeria’s Christian communities and all persecuted believers worldwide, and I commend our collaborative efforts to provide the President with the information needed to confront this growing tragedy.”

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast framed the violence as part of a broader campaign, declaring, “This is a targeted campaign of religious cleansing,” and alleging that extremist groups seek to “drive Christians out of their ancestral lands in the Middle Belt.” He urged the Nigerian government to “disarm these militias, return displaced families to their homes, and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Read also: Ted Cruz: The US senator who made Nigeria’s Christian genocide claim a global issue

Expert witnesses who testified during the briefing warned that insecurity is affecting multiple religious communities across the country. USCIRF Chair Hartzler cited recent attacks, including the November abduction of more than 300 children and 12 teachers from a Catholic school.

“Religious freedom in Nigeria has been under siege in 2025 and, unfortunately, it seems to be getting worse,” she said.

Obadare, however, identified Boko Haram as the primary driver of the violence. “The deadliest and most serious threat confronting the Nigerian state today is jihadist terror,” he said. While acknowledging recent Nigerian military actions following renewed US pressure, he urged Washington to sustain its leverage.

“The policy goal should be two-fold: first, work with the Nigerian military to neutralise Boko Haram. Second, the United States should put pressure on President Tinubu to make Sharia law unconstitutional in the 12 Northern states where it has been adopted since 2000 and disband the various Hisbah groups,” he said.

Committee officials said a comprehensive report with recommendations is being prepared for Trump on how Congress can support the administration’s efforts to curb religious persecution in Nigeria and elsewhere.

The hearing came just two weeks after the US Congress debated Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a CPC and his threat of possible military intervention, with lawmakers split between framing the crisis as a “Christian genocide” and warning that such a narrative dangerously oversimplifies Nigeria’s complex security challenges.

During the hearing, Rep. Sara Jacobs cautioned against reducing the crisis to a purely religious conflict. “There is very real conflict and violence that we need to address… The violence impacting both Christian and Muslim communities is real,” she said, citing her work on US counter-Boko Haram strategy since 2013.

Jacobs referenced recent incidents affecting Muslim communities as well. “The victims in the Kebbi State kidnapping were all Muslim girls. So violence affects everyone. And false narratives perpetuate harmful stereotypes,” she said. She also condemned Trump’s threat of unilateral military intervention, saying, “President Trump’s threat is reckless. Any unilateral military action in Nigeria would be illegal.”

The US State Department, however, defended the CPC redesignation. Jacob McGee, deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, insisted that atrocities in parts of Nigeria, particularly the Middle Belt, are faith-driven. “These attacks directly target Christian populations. Witness testimonies confirmed attackers used religious language and specifically targeted Christians for killing, abduction, and rape,” he said.

US Representative Pramila Jayapal also pushed back strongly against what she called a one-sided portrayal of the crisis. “The killings in Nigeria aren’t just the persecution of Christians. It is the persecution of multiple groups. We should be careful not to portray it as just prosecution of Christians; that would be simplistic,” she said.

As the debate intensifies in Washington, the Nigerian government has stepped up diplomatic engagement with US authorities in a bid to counter the narrative that Nigeria is experiencing a Christian genocide.

Riley Moore, one of the most vocal proponents of the genocide claim, recently met with a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu in Washington.

Moore described the engagement as a “frank, honest, and productive discussion” focused on alleged persecution of Christians and persistent terrorist threats. According to him, the Nigerian side raised concerns about security assistance and the protection of vulnerable communities.

Ribadu also recently met with Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of War, who said in a post on X that the Trump administration is “working aggressively with Nigeria to end the persecution of Christians in the country.”

Taofeek Oyedokun is a correspondent at BusinessDay with years of experience reporting on political economy, public policy, migration, environment/climate change, and social justice. A graduate of Political Science from the University of Lagos, he has also earned multiple professional certificates in journalism and media-related training. Known for his clear, data-driven reporting, Oyedokun covers a wide range of national and international socioeconomic issues, bringing depth, balance, and public-interest focus to his work.

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