The U.S. House of Representatives has urged President Trump to impose sanctions on Nigeria due to increasing violence against Christians. This call follows a congressional hearing that shed light on severe religious persecution by Islamist extremists, emphasizing the need for Nigeria to be redesignated as a Country of Particular Concern.
The United States House of Representatives has formally urged President Donald Trump to implement sanctions against Nigeria due to the escalating violence against Christians. This call follows a congressional hearing that highlighted alarming religious persecution in Nigeria, wherein Islamic extremists are blamed for widespread killings and mass displacements of Christian communities.
During the session, the severity of the violence was underscored by lawmakers and experts. Representative Chris Smith criticized the Biden administration for revoking Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), a classification that was initially set by President Trump in December 2020. Smith expressed concern over the lack of justification for this action, stating, “Religious leaders in Nigeria were outraged by Sec. Blinken’s decision.”
Smith further argued that the Nigerian government has failed to protect its Christian citizens despite the constitutional enshrined right to religious freedom. He cited Genocide Watch’s assertion that Nigeria resembles “a killing field of defenseless Christians,” with over 52,000 reported killings since 2009. In addition, approximately five million Nigerians have been displaced, predominantly Christians, seeking refuge in various camps.
Smith’s resolution for redesignating Nigeria as a CPC, initially passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, did not advance to the House floor. Smith recently reintroduced it as H. Res. 220, anticipating a more proactive response from the Trump administration and additional outreach to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
The hearing, titled “Conflict and Persecution in Nigeria: The Case for a CPC Designation,” featured testimonies from various leaders, including Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, who described a sustained campaign to eliminate Christian identity in Nigeria. Additionally, Nina Shea emphasized Nigeria’s unsettling reputation as the most perilous country for Christians globally, reiterating the ongoing threats from militant Fulani Muslim herders particularly targeting farming communities in the Middle Belt.
Tony Perkins, a former Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, criticized Western media for downplaying the rapidly worsening crisis, stating that Christians are consistently subjected to violence, including murders and kidnappings. As advocacy efforts intensify, attention is focused on whether President Trump will respond by reinstating Nigeria’s CPC designation and enacting necessary sanctions to combat ongoing persecution.
In summary, the U.S. House of Representatives has called upon President Trump to impose sanctions on Nigeria, citing the alarming rise in violence against Christians. Testimonies during the recent congressional hearing pointed to governmental inadequacies in protecting religious minorities, with grave consequences reported. The ongoing advocacy emphasizes the urgent need for action to address these human rights violations, remaining a central focus in U.S. foreign policy.
Original Source: saharareporters.com
