The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa has approved sanctions on Nigeria in response to the widespread killing of Christians and ongoing religious violence.
This decision grants President Donald Trump the authority to impose strict measures against the Nigerian government for its failure to protect Christian communities from escalating attacks.
The move follows a congressional hearing on Wednesday, where lawmakers condemned Nigeria’s inaction in addressing the crisis.
The subcommittee referenced a 2024 report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, which found that Nigerians accounted for 90% of all Christians killed globally each year.
Between October 2019 and September 2023, the report documented a staggering 55,910 deaths and 21,000 abductions carried out by terrorist groups in the region.
Committee Chairman Chris Smith underscored the gravity of the situation, citing testimony from Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Diocese of Makurdi, Nigeria, as critical evidence of the ongoing persecution.
He said: “One of our distinguished witnesses today—Bishop Wilfred Anagbe—travelled a long distance to be with us, and his testimony is both compelling and disturbing.
“Militant Fulani herdsmen are terrorists. They steal and vandalise, they kill and boast about it, they kidnap and rape, and they enjoy total impunity from elected officials. None of them have been arrested or brought to justice.”
“Make no mistake – these attacks are religiously motivated,” the report stated, adding: “Denying this reality contradicts the overwhelming evidence we have seen with our own eyes. This ‘religious cleansing’ must stop, and those responsible must be held accountable.”
The congressional panel sharply criticized the Nigerian government for its failure to curb religiously motivated violence, despite constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
The lawmakers voiced concern that Nigeria’s judicial system has been exploited to suppress Christian communities, citing instances where blasphemy laws have been used to target religious minorities.
“The Government of Nigeria has made little progress in addressing the persecution of Christians, even though religious freedom is enshrined as a fundamental human right in its Constitution.
“While Nigeria’s legal framework ostensibly supports religious pluralism at both federal and state levels, glaring contradictions persist—particularly in laws that criminalise blasphemy, some of which even carry the death penalty,” the subcommittee’s report stated.
Smith criticized President Joe Biden’s administration for weakening U.S. pressure on Nigeria by removing the country from the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list.
He pointed out that the designation was initially applied during President Trump’s first term and that, despite four consecutive years of recommendations from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (2021–2024), the Biden administration had not reinstated Nigeria’s CPC status.
“Under President Biden, Nigeria was removed from the CPC list, despite overwhelming evidence that religious persecution had worsened. This decision ignored the repeated recommendations of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom,” he said.
He urged President Trump to take strong action, such as reinstating Nigeria’s CPC designation and directly engaging with Nigerian Bola Tinubu to ensure better protection for Christian communities.
“I fully expect President Trump to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC and to take additional steps to support the persecuted church. Last night, I reintroduced a resolution on this issue, and I hope we will have a robust discussion that leads to real action,” he added.
He also urged the Trump administration and the U.S. Senate to be prepared to impose sanctions on Nigeria if the violence against Christians continues.
“This hearing should serve as a catalyst for action—not just within Congress but also within the Executive Branch,” he added.
“The new president has a responsibility to act, and I believe he will. If necessary, sanctions must be imposed. When they have been used in the past, they have brought change. Where there are no consequences, the killing fields remain.”
The Benue State House of Assembly has called on key security officials in the state to appear before it today, March 14, to provide updates on the ongoing violence and killings in the region.
The invited individuals include the Special Advisers on External Security, Col. Alexander Ashungyu (Rtd), Internal Security, Joe Har, Director General of Benue Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan (Rtd), and the Commandant of the Benue Civil Protection Guards, Captain Ajobi Ayuma (Rtd).
Additionally, the Assembly summoned the Special Adviser on the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Denen Aondoakaa, to explain the allocation and management of security funds at the local government level.
The Assembly strongly condemned the recent attacks on innocent Benue citizens by armed herdsmen and the violent actions of protesters, which led to the destruction of valuable property in Naka.
It was emphasized that these protests should have been directed at defending communities against the marauding herdsmen rather than causing further destruction.
The decision followed an urgent motion moved by Hon. Bemdoo Ipusu, representing Katsina-Ala West, who informed the House of the escalating violence in the state.
Ipusu highlighted that armed herdsmen had attacked several communities in Katsina-Ala and Gwer West Local Government Areas, leaving many dead and displacing others.
Ipusu also noted that the violent response by residents of Naka, which included burning the local government headquarters and the residence of the Ter Tyoshin, Chief Daniel Abomtse, exacerbated the situation, and he called for the immediate appearance of the security heads.
Seconding the motion, Minority Leader Rt. Hon. Michael Audu expressed concern about the increasing frequency of herdsmen attacks.
He warned that if not addressed, the situation could lead to a total breakdown of law and order, food insecurity, and mass displacement across communities.
The Assembly also reviewed reports from the Auditor General for Local Government on the financial accounts of the 23 local governments in Benue State for the years ending December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2022, which were presented by Rt. Hon. Anthony Agom, Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
The Speaker, Chief Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, referred the two reports to the Rules and Business Committee. During Plenary, the House announced Hon. Cephas Dyako as the new Minority Whip and Hon. Moses Egbodo as the Deputy Minority Whip, following the suspension of the former Minority Whip, Hon. William Ortyom, and the former Deputy Minority Whip, Hon. Blessed Onah.
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