US CONGRESS RENEWS PRESSURE ON NIGERIA OVER ‘CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION’

The United States Congress is set to renew scrutiny of Nigeria's handling of religious violence, with lawmakers scheduled to hold another hearing on attacks against Christian communities and insecurity in the country's Middle Belt.

The hearing, scheduled for Thursday, November 12, will be chaired by Republican Congressman Chris Smith, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa.

Titled “One Year Later: Assessing Nigeria’s Efforts to Protect Christians and Secure the Middle Belt,” the session will examine the Nigerian government's response to attacks, efforts to protect vulnerable communities and the prosecution of those responsible for religiously motivated violence.

Lawmakers are also expected to consider possible steps the United States could take to encourage Nigerian authorities to address attacks against Christians and non-radical Muslim communities.

The first panel of witnesses will feature Frank Garcia, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Riley Barnes, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour.

The second panel will include Nina Shea of the Hudson Institute, Ryan Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Open Doors US, and Oge Onubogu of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

The hearing will be Smith's 14th congressional session focused on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, reflecting sustained pressure from some American lawmakers over the country's security situation.

The development comes amid renewed international attention following the Trump administration's decision in 2025 to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged violations of religious freedom.

However, the Nigerian government has consistently rejected the characterisation of the country's security crisis as primarily religious, maintaining that violence affects both Christians and Muslims and involves terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal conflicts.

The forthcoming hearing is expected to further shape discussions around religious freedom, security cooperation and diplomatic relations between Washington and Abuja.