The United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa has revealed that Nigeria accounts for 90% of Christians killed globally due to religious violence. During a hearing on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, the subcommittee presented alarming statistics highlighting the worsening persecution of Christians in the West African nation.
Calls for U.S. Sanctions on Nigeria
The Chairman of the Subcommittee, Chris Smith, emphasized the urgency of the crisis, urging the U.S. President, Donald Trump, to take decisive action, including imposing harsh sanctions on Nigeria if the killings do not stop.
“Militant Fulani herdsmen are terrorists. They steal, vandalize, kill, and boast about it. They kidnap and rape, enjoying total impunity from elected officials. None of them have been arrested or brought to justice,” Mr. Smith stated.
The subcommittee criticized the Nigerian government for failing to protect Christians, despite religious freedom being enshrined in the country’s constitution.
Shocking Statistics on Christian Persecution in Nigeria
According to the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa’s 2024 report, Nigeria accounts for a staggering 90% of global Christian killings annually.
Also Read : Putin Sets Conditions for Ukraine Ceasefire Amid Global Diplomatic Tensions (Full List)
Between October 2019 and September 2023, data showed:
- 55,910 people were killed due to religiously motivated attacks.
- 21,000 Christians were abducted by terrorist groups.
| Time Period | Number of Christian Deaths | Number of Abductions |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 – 2023 | 55,910 | 21,000 |
Mr. Smith called the attacks a form of religious cleansing, warning that if action is not taken, violence will escalate further.
Criticism of Nigeria’s Legal System
The subcommittee accused Nigeria of weaponizing its judicial system against Christians, citing laws that criminalize blasphemy, some even carrying the death penalty.
“Despite religious freedom being an essential human right, Nigeria has failed to protect its Christian population from persecution,” the report stated.
| Issue | Impact on Christians |
|---|---|
| Blasphemy Laws | Used to imprison or execute Christians. |
| Judicial Bias | Courts allegedly used to target Christian activists. |
| Government Inaction | Failure to prosecute religious violence perpetrators. |
Reinstating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC)
Mr. Smith criticized the previous Biden administration for removing Nigeria from the U.S. Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list, a designation that signals severe religious persecution.
Under Trump’s first term, Nigeria was placed on the CPC list, but Biden’s administration removed it despite the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommending its reinstatement for four consecutive years (2021-2024).
Mr. Smith urged President Trump to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC, emphasizing that stronger measures, including sanctions, should be considered if the situation does not improve.
What’s Next? U.S. May Consider Sanctions
Mr. Smith revealed that he had reintroduced a resolution in Congress calling for action against Nigeria, stressing that sanctions could be imposed if the killing of Christians continues.
“If Nigeria does not address this issue, sanctions will be necessary. Where sanctions have been imposed, we have seen change. Where they haven’t, the killing continues,” he said.
The resolution is expected to spark further discussions within Congress and the U.S. Executive Branch, potentially influencing U.S.-Nigeria relations in the coming months.
The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee’s findings highlight the dire state of Christian persecution in Nigeria, calling for urgent action at both national and international levels.
As the debate over sanctions and Nigeria’s CPC status continues, all eyes will be on President Trump and his administration to see how they respond to these growing concerns.
What Do You Think?
Should the U.S. impose sanctions on Nigeria, or should diplomatic measures be prioritized? Share your thoughts in the comments!
