On Thursday, November 20, the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Sub-committee on Africa held a public hearing on the redesignation of Nigeria by President Donald Trump as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged violations of religious.
The hearing was conducted to review the scope of religious persecution in Nigeria, potential policy responses, including targeted sanctions, and collaboration with the Nigerian authorities to prevent further violence.
During the hearing at the Rayburn House Office Building 220 and streamed live, the committee highlighted the need for the Nigerian government to address the security challenges in the country and end Christian genocide.
While the conservatives called for sanctions, the Democrats denounced the threats by President Trump as reckless.
Chris Smith, the committee chair, said religious freedom must be proven, noting that the Nigerian government must protect the lives of its citizens beyond expectations.
Smith noted that 89 per cent of Christians martyred across the world are in Nigeria, with over 52,000 Christians slaughtered since 2009.
He accused the militant Fulani herdsmen of committing acts of rape, kidnapping and murder with total impunity from Nigerian officials.
“The Nigerian government must prosecute bandits who are killing Christians and are responsible for kidnapping,” he said.
The hearing featured the Senior Bureau Official of the Bureau of African Affairs, Jonathan Pratt, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Jacob McGee, both of whom asked the Nigerian government to strengthen religious freedom in the country to secure lives and properties.
They noted that statistics indicate that thousands of Nigerian Christians have been killed in the last two years.
The lawmakers also noted the level of violence and destruction in the country, with reference to the practice of Sharia law in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states, therefore suggesting unfair treatment of people of other faiths.
“Lives and properties of Nigerian citizens should be well secured irrespective of the location they reside in,” Pratt said.
McGee said, “Nigeria is facing its difficult challenges in securing lives and properties and that calls for security intervention.
“Recent killing and kidnappings in Kebbi State in Nigeria shows the level of insecurity in Nigeria. A few months back, over two hundred people were killed and lots of properties were vandalized,” said Jacob.
Director and Senior Fellow, Africa Programme at The Wilson Centre, Oge Onubogu, said that the Nigerian government must do enough to check killings in the country.
She pointed out that the challenge of insecurity should not be pigeonhole into genocidal killings because there are braided issues involved.
A Nigerian cleric, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, who had earlier in the year appeared before the Congress, said: “Nigeria has become the deadliest place on earth to be a Christian.
“Attacks by Fulani militants and Boko Haram have intensified, targeting Christian communities with impunity. More believers are killed there annually than in the rest of the world combined, yet perpetrators face little accountability.
“Violence is spreading, displacing millions and destroying farmland, creating a humanitarian crisis worsened by food insecurity. Without urgent intervention, Christianity risks being wiped out in Northern and Middle Belt Nigeria.
“Nigeria, already designated a Country of Particular Concern, must now be met with decisive action.”