United States lawmakers on Tuesday convened a joint briefing to examine the escalating violence and systematic persecution of Christians in Nigeria, with expert witnesses presenting harrowing testimonies of religious cleansing and government negligence.
The hearing, organized by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Appropriations Committee, followed President Donald Trump’s October 31 directive ordering Congress to investigate the killings of Christians in Nigeria.
The session brought together senior congressional leaders and international religious freedom experts to assess the crisis and explore policy responses to support vulnerable communities.
Among those in attendance were House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Robert Aderholt, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Brian Mast, Africa Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Chris Smith, and U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair Honorable Vicky Hartzler.
Expert witnesses included Sean Nelson of Alliance Defending Freedom International and Dr. Ebenezer Obadare of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Lawmakers Condemn Religious Violence
Chairman Díaz-Balart emphasized America’s commitment to defending religious liberty worldwide as both a moral imperative and national security interest.
“No one should live in fear because of how they worship. Defending religious liberty worldwide is both a moral duty and a vital American interest,” he stated. “As Chairman of the subcommittee that funds U.S. national security interests and foreign policy priorities, I remain committed to advancing policies that protect the freedom to live according to one’s faith without fear of violence and retribution.”
Congressman Aderholt described the situation as “a crisis that can’t be ignored,” pledging to support persecuted Christian communities.
“The rising violence and targeted persecution of Christians in Nigeria is a crisis that can’t be ignored. Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked to protect the most vulnerable, including those whose lives and liberties are threatened simply because of their faith,” he said.
Congressman Moore, who was specifically tasked by President Trump to investigate the persecution, condemned the atrocities.
“Our brothers and sisters in Christ are being persecuted and slaughtered in Nigeria simply for professing their faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” Moore stated. “The world will no longer turn a blind eye to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.”
“Religious Cleansing” Campaign
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast rejected characterizations of the violence as mere communal conflict or resource disputes.
“This is not merely ‘inter-communal violence’ or a ‘resource conflict,’ as many claim. This is a targeted campaign of religious cleansing,” Mast declared. “Whether it is Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, or radicalised nomadic Fulani militants, the objective is to drive Christians out of their ancestral lands in the Middle Belt and impose a radical Islamist ideology.”
Congressman Chris Smith, who chairs the Africa Subcommittee, described Nigeria as “ground zero of religious violence,” where Christians and moderate Muslims face constant threats.
“To be a Christian or moderate Muslim living in Nigeria means to be living under the constant threat of murder, rape, and torture by radical Islamist groups, such as Boko Haram and Fulani terrorists,” Smith said. “The Nigerian government has a fundamental, constitutional obligation to protect its citizens; however, the perpetrators of this persecution operate with complete impunity.”
Smith warned that the Nigerian government is attempting to delay accountability and urged swift action.
“The Nigerian government is trying to run out the clock; we cannot allow this to happen. We must act quickly and decisively to save more lives,” he added.
Expert Testimonies Reveal Extent of Crisis
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair Vicky Hartzler provided disturbing details of recent attacks, including the November 22 abduction of 303 children and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Niger State.
“Religious freedom in Nigeria has been under siege in 2025 and, unfortunately, it seems to be getting worse,” Hartzler testified. “Just a few days ago, on November 22nd, 303 children and 12 teachers were abducted in an attack on St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Niger State.”
She noted that Muslims also fall victim to violence, citing August incidents where bandits abducted over 100 people from a mosque in Zamfara State and killed 27 worshipers in Katsina State.
“No matter the group perpetrating the violence, we must be clear: religious freedom violations are rampant. They are horrible, egregious, violent, and Christians are the predominant victims,” Hartzler said.
She called for improved accountability and transparency from the Nigerian government, criticizing law enforcement’s failure to respond to warnings of impending attacks.
“Too many times, local villagers learn of an impending attack and reach out for protection, only to have their cries for help ignored to their ultimate demise. Worse yet, there are stories of law enforcement being called during an attack, and yet no help is sent. This is unacceptable!” she stated.
Firsthand Accounts of Terror
Sean Nelson of Alliance Defending Freedom International shared harrowing testimonies from Nigerian Christians he has represented, describing systematic persecution and government indifference.
“Our cases have involved Christians unjustly imprisoned by Sharia courts, false allegations of crimes merely for evangelism or protecting Christian converts or operating charities, Christians kidnapped and tortured, girls taken from their parents and forced into marriages and forcefully converted to Islam,” Nelson recounted.
“I have met with clients who have shared their heartbreaking testimony directly with me, many of whom barely escaped being murdered by extremists or even people that they knew within their communities. I have visited with villages directly attacked by Fulani militants and witnessed the aftermath of pastors beheaded, mass graves, widows and orphans, churches and homes torched, destroyed farmlands,” he continued.
Nelson criticized Nigerian officials for dismissing the religious dimensions of the violence and maintaining draconian blasphemy laws.
“Officials in Nigeria dismiss any consideration that religion plays a role in these attacks, and have put very few resources into the areas where Christians have been hit hardest, in the Middle Belt,” he said.
“Nigeria also maintains and enforces one of the most draconian blasphemy laws in the world. In the 12 northern Sharia states, a person can be sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy, one of only seven places in the world with such a law.”
Root Cause: Jihadist Terror
Dr. Ebenezer Obadare of the Council on Foreign Relations identified Boko Haram as the primary threat to Nigerian stability.
“The deadliest and most serious threat confronting the Nigerian state today is jihadist terror, perpetrated by the Islamist group Boko Haram,” Obadare testified. “Boko Haram translates to ‘Western education is forbidden.’ Boko Haram’s barbarous and implacable campaign to overthrow the Nigerian state and establish an Islamic caliphate in its stead is the source of Nigeria’s present discontents.”
He proposed a two-pronged strategy: military neutralization of Boko Haram and pressure on President Tinubu to make Sharia law unconstitutional in northern states and disband Hisbah enforcement groups.
“Since the country’s Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation and President Trump’s threat of unilateral military action against Boko Haram, President Tinubu has made several moves, including ordering air strikes against Boko Haram targets, the recruitment of an additional 30,000 policemen, and, most recently, declaring a national security emergency,” Obadare noted.
“Washington must keep up the pressure,” he urged.
The hearing underscored bipartisan congressional support for President Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations and signals potential policy measures to hold the Nigerian government accountable for protecting all its citizens regardless of religious affiliation.
