Godsent Ogbebor
US Congress to Hold Briefing on Persecution of Christians in Nigeria
The United States House Appropriations Committee is set to convene a joint congressional briefing on Tuesday to address the rising attacks and alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The session, led by Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chair Mario Díaz-Balart, is expected to feature lawmakers from the House Appropriations, Foreign Affairs, and Financial Services Committees. Representatives from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and other experts will present insights during the meeting.
The briefing aims to highlight the escalating violence and targeted persecution of Christians in Nigeria. It will also gather testimony to support a comprehensive report ordered by former President Donald Trump on the killings of Christians in the country, and discuss potential steps Congress could take to bolster White House efforts to protect vulnerable religious communities worldwide.
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This development comes as security discussions between Washington and the Nigerian government intensify, following a surge in terrorist attacks in Nigeria. Recently, President Bola Tinubu approved the formation of Nigeria’s delegation to the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group, which was created to enhance bilateral collaboration on counterterrorism and related threats. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu will lead the Nigerian team, which includes senior officials from various government agencies.
The US scrutiny of Nigeria’s security situation has increased following claims by former US President Trump that Christians in the country are being targeted for “genocide.” However, the Nigerian government has strongly rejected these claims, asserting that security challenges in the country affect both Muslims and Christians alike.
