US Congress Sanctions Nigeria for Violence Against Christians

The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa has approved President Donald Trump to enforce strict sanctions on Nigeria due to ongoing religious violence against Christians.

The decision came after a congressional hearing where lawmakers criticised the Nigerian government for not protecting Christian communities. This violence has led to thousands of deaths, and Nigeria accounts for 90% of Christians killed globally each year.

In a damning report from the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, it was revealed that from October 2019 to September 2023, approximately 55,910 people were killed and another 21,000 were abducted by terrorist groups in Nigeria.

During the hearing, the severity of the situation was emphasized by Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi, who provided a detailed account of the violence faced by Christians in Nigeria. He described militant Fulani herdsmen as terrorists who commit widespread theft, vandalism, and murder without consequence.

The subcommittee criticized the Nigerian government for its inability to curb these religiously motivated attacks, despite constitutional protections for religious freedom. 

They pointed to the use of blasphemy laws to oppress religious minorities and noted the government’s failure to address these issues effectively.

Furthermore, the subcommittee condemned the Biden administration for reducing U.S. pressure on Nigeria by removing it from the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list, which tracks countries with severe violations of religious freedom. 

Despite recommendations to reinstate Nigeria on this list due to worsening religious persecution, it was not acted upon.

The subcommittee urged President Trump to re-designate Nigeria as a CPC and to discuss directly with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu the protection of Christian communities. 

They also called for potential sanctions if the violence persists, emphasising that past sanctions have led to positive changes.