The United States House of Representatives has opened a major investigation into claims of widespread attacks on Christians in Nigeria, following President Donald Trump’s recent redesignation of the country as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations.
The House Subcommittee on Africa is scheduled to hold an open hearing on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
The session, chaired by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), will assess the scope of Nigeria’s religious violence and examine potential policy responses, including sanctions and other punitive measures.
According to an invitation seen by The PUNCH, the hearing will feature two panels of senior US officials and religious leaders. Witnesses include Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs, Jonathan Pratt, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Jacob McGee, and several civil society leaders such as Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Makurdi Catholic Diocese.
The probe follows Trump’s October 31 designation of Nigeria as a CPC—a move that triggered global debate. Trump claimed that Christians in Nigeria face “an existential threat,” alleging that “thousands of Christians are being slaughtered by radical Islamists.”
He warned that the US could adopt harsh measures if the Nigerian government failed to curb the violence.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance,” he said on November 1.
“We may very well go into that now-disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
Trump added that he had instructed the “Department of War” to prepare for possible action, saying any response would be “fast, vicious, and sweet.”
President Bola Tinubu rejected the assertions, saying they do not reflect Nigeria’s reality.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity,” Tinubu said in a statement on his X handle. “The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality.”
He insisted that Nigeria “opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”
Some American lawmakers have challenged Tinubu’s pushback. Speaking to Fox News, Congressman Riley Moore said there is clear evidence of targeted violence.
“Unfortunately, that is completely false,” Moore claimed.
“There are states in Nigeria that have blasphemy laws, people facing the death penalty for blasphemy. So there is serious persecution happening.”
He added that intelligence gathered suggests Christian deaths outnumber Muslim casualties “five to one.”
Moore said Congress is coordinating with the White House and the State Department to “get to the bottom of this.”
Bishop Wilfred Anagbe—who will testify before Congress—has repeatedly raised concerns about attacks in Benue State.
Addressing UK parliamentarians in March, he described communities being displaced and places of worship destroyed.
“The militant Fulani herdsmen bear down on defenseless villagers without consequence,” he said. “They attack even those who have managed to escape into our IDP camps.”
Pope Leo XIV also weighed in, decrying what he described as rising global persecution of Christians.
“In various parts of the world, Christians suffer discrimination and persecution,” he wrote on X. “I think especially of Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan… from which we frequently hear of attacks on communities and places of worship.”
However, another US Congressman, Bill Huizenga, told Arise TV that military intervention is unlikely.
“I suspect that is not a high priority,” he said. “While I don’t envision a military response, the President wants the killings to stop.”
Huizenga suggested economic sanctions would be more effective. “Sanctions cut off the flow of money and travel. That will have a positive impact,” he noted.
Back home, the Presidency has begun grassroots peace efforts. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Dr Abiodun Essiet, visited Plateau State last week to meet Christian and Fulani leaders.
According to presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, Essiet helped mediate a dispute in Jos South Local Government Area where a farmer, David Toma, seized two cows after his farm was allegedly destroyed. The Miyetti Allah chairman later paid N500,000 compensation, and both parties signed a peace agreement.
Essiet emphasized that Tinubu “remains committed to peace and inclusive governance,” stressing that community-based mechanisms are vital for stability in the region.
