The U.S. House of Representatives Sub-committee has urged the Nigerian government to do more to curb rising insecurity and alleged attacks on Christians. The hearing also stressed that genocide must be prevented anywhere in the world.
This followed a meeting in Washington, D.C., between U.S. Congress member Riley Moore and a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, alongside top security chiefs.
During the hearing, Rep. Chris Smith said Nigeria must prove its commitment to religious freedom, insisting that bandits killing and kidnapping Christians must be prosecuted.
U.S. State Department officials Jacob McGee and Jonathan Pratt noted that thousands of Christians have been killed in the last two years, calling for stronger protection of lives and property. They added that the presence of 12 Nigerian states practicing Sharia law has raised concerns about unequal treatment of non-Muslims.
Pratt stressed that every Nigerian citizen deserves safety regardless of location. McGee added that recent killings and kidnappings in Kebbi State show how severe insecurity has become.
Oge Onubogu, Director of the Africa Programme, said the government must address the killings but cautioned that Nigeria’s insecurity involves many overlapping issues, not only religious violence.
Bishop Wilfred Anagbe told Congress that Nigeria has become “the deadliest place on earth to be a Christian,” citing attacks by Fulani militants and Boko Haram, massive displacement, destroyed farmlands, and a worsening humanitarian crisis. He warned that Christianity could be wiped out in northern and Middle Belt regions without urgent intervention.
Riley Moore also met with Ribadu and Nigerian security chiefs in Washington. She said the discussion centred on counterterrorism, security assistance, and protecting vulnerable communities. The Nigerian delegation included senior officials such as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, and the Chiefs of Defence Staff and Defence Intelligence.
Moore said she made it clear that the U.S. expects “tangible steps” to stop violence, persecution, and killings of Christians. She added that the U.S. is ready to cooperate with Nigeria to combat Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani militant attacks.
She urged Nigeria to seize the opportunity to strengthen ties with the U.S., warning that religious violence cannot continue unchecked. She also noted that the U.S. will closely monitor Nigeria’s response and expects active collaboration to end the bloodshed.