DDM NEWS can exclusively report that a fresh and far-reaching report by the United States Congress has reignited international debate over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, branding the country as the world’s deadliest place for Christians and urging sweeping diplomatic, economic, and security measures to address what lawmakers described as decades of violent persecution. The report, titled “Ending the Persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” calls on the United States government to take tougher action against Nigeria, including sanctions, security restructuring, and sustained diplomatic pressure, in response to what it portrays as escalating attacks on Christian communities.
According to the congressional document, which has been circulated publicly by the House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority, Nigeria has for years been at the epicentre of deadly sectarian violence, with Christian communities bearing what the report describes as a disproportionate burden of killings, kidnappings, and displacement. The report commended President Donald Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), describing the move as a significant step toward confronting what lawmakers characterised as religiously motivated violence. DDM NEWS gathered that the CPC designation, which carries potential diplomatic and economic consequences, is being presented by US lawmakers as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to force meaningful reforms within Nigeria’s security architecture and governance system.
In one of its most controversial claims, the report declared that “after decades of persecution, Nigeria is the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian,” alleging that well-armed Fulani militias and various terrorist groups have carried out sustained attacks that have claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Christians, including clerics, pastors, and priests. The document further alleged that thousands of churches and schools have been destroyed across northern and central Nigeria, while kidnappings and the enforcement of blasphemy laws in some northern states are used to suppress dissent, silence free expression, and target Christians and other minorities. The report argued that these legal frameworks have enabled convictions without due process and deepened mistrust between religious communities.
DDM NEWS understands that the report is backed by influential bodies within the US Congress, including the House Appropriations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Lawmakers behind the initiative said the scale and persistence of violence in Nigeria demanded a coordinated response from Washington, combining diplomatic pressure with targeted sanctions and security cooperation. According to the document, President Trump tasked Congressman Riley Moore, Chairman Tom Cole, and members of the House Appropriations Committee with investigating the persecution and killings of Christians in Nigeria, a move that elevated the issue within US legislative priorities.
The investigation reportedly involved a series of high-level engagements. Appropriations Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart hosted an investigative roundtable to review evidence and testimonies, while House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast and Africa Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith led hearings that brought together government officials, civil society actors, and rights advocates. DDM NEWS learnt that these hearings were designed to build a case for stronger US action, culminating in a set of recommendations aimed not only at Washington but also directly at the Nigerian government.
Among the most significant proposals is the call for a formal bilateral agreement between the United States and Nigeria to protect vulnerable Christian communities and dismantle what the report described as jihadist terror networks. Under the proposed framework, Nigeria would be required to co-fund humanitarian assistance for affected communities, prioritise internally displaced persons in predominantly Christian areas of the Middle Belt, and deploy capable security forces to prevent further attacks. The report also urged Nigerian authorities to take decisive steps to remove armed Fulani militias from farmlands they allegedly seized, and to create conditions for the safe, voluntary return of displaced families by guaranteeing security and rebuilding destroyed infrastructure.
The congressional document further recommended invoking and publicly announcing CPC Presidential Directives to “name and shame perpetrators of violence,” arguing that public accountability would deter future attacks. It called for targeted sanctions against individuals and groups accused of participating in or tolerating violence against Christians, as well as continued visa restrictions on alleged perpetrators. In a move that could significantly escalate tensions, the report suggested that US authorities review whether certain Fulani militia groups should be formally designated as Foreign Terrorist Organisations, a step that would carry serious legal and diplomatic consequences.
DDM NEWS notes that the report also touched on Nigeria’s legal framework, calling for the repeal of Sharia codes and criminal anti-blasphemy laws in northern states, which lawmakers argued are frequently used to suppress minorities and stifle dissent. The document claimed that such laws contribute to a climate of fear and impunity, reinforcing divisions along religious lines. Beyond legal reforms, the report proposed leveraging trade measures to exert economic pressure, including reviewing beef and cattle-related exports to countries such as Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Africa, and Senegal, with the aim of cutting off financial incentives linked to armed groups and criminal networks.
On security cooperation, the report urged the United States to deepen its partnership with Nigeria by redirecting what it described as Nigeria’s growing interest in Russian military equipment toward American defence systems. It recommended improved counter-terrorism collaboration, streamlined Foreign Military Sales processes, and more robust intelligence-sharing mechanisms to better track sectarian violence and terrorist financing. The report also called for increased accountability before additional US funds are released to Nigeria, including a Government Accountability Office audit to assess the effectiveness of American aid and closer monitoring of Nigeria’s financial system to disrupt terror funding networks.
The document further raised concerns over alleged Chinese illegal mining operations in parts of Nigeria, claiming that such activities destabilise local communities and may involve protection payments to armed groups. Lawmakers warned that unchecked foreign exploitation of mineral resources could worsen insecurity and undermine governance in vulnerable regions. DDM NEWS gathered that the report urged the US administration to ensure adequate staffing of diplomatic missions in Nigeria and to rally international partners, including France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom, to take coordinated action against the crisis.
Framing the issue as both a humanitarian emergency and a national security concern, the report warned that the expansion of sectarian violence and terrorism in Nigeria poses risks to regional stability in West Africa and threatens broader American strategic interests. Lawmakers argued that instability in Africa’s most populous nation could have ripple effects across the Sahel, fueling migration pressures, extremist recruitment, and transnational crime.
“The United States and Nigeria should take this moment to redefine a new strategic partnership to make America and Nigeria safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” the report concluded, calling for what it described as a reset in bilateral relations anchored on security reform, accountability, and the protection of vulnerable communities.
While the report has sparked strong reactions in international circles, it is expected to intensify debates within Nigeria over the nature of its security crisis, the role of religion in conflict narratives, and the balance between sovereignty and external pressure. As global attention sharpens on Nigeria’s internal challenges, DDM NEWS will continue to track developments and the potential diplomatic and political implications of Washington’s renewed focus on the country’s security and human rights record.
