Lawmakers, religious leaders, and US officials clashed over Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for alleged Christian persecution during a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa hearing on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
The hearing reviewed religious persecution in Nigeria, potential policy responses, and cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
It followed President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria, which included threats of US military intervention to eliminate Islamic extremist groups allegedly targeting Christians.
Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi Catholic Diocese warned that Christianity risks eradication in parts of northern and Middle-Belt Nigeria.
He cited mass killings, kidnappings, forced displacement, and sexual violence against women as systematic attempts to wipe out Christian communities.
Anagbe described attacks in Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and Kogi, including the June 13 massacre in Yelwata, Benue State, where 278 people were reportedly killed.
Senior Bureau Official Jonathan Pratt of the US State Department highlighted the spread of terrorist activities by Boko Haram, ISWAP, Ansaru, and other groups beyond northeastern Nigeria, emphasizing that Christian and other communities are increasingly vulnerable due to prioritization challenges by Nigerian authorities.
Representative John James described Nigeria as “the deadliest place on earth to be a Christian,” citing nearly 17,000 Christian deaths since 2019 and hundreds more in the first seven months of 2025.
He criticized the Nigerian government for insufficient response and selective enforcement of the law, referencing Nnamdi Kanu’s ongoing detention as an example of political repression linked to religious targeting.
Diverging Views Among Lawmakers
Congressman Bill Huizenga and Representative Johnny Olszewski criticized the Nigerian government’s inability to protect civilians, while also noting the violence affects both Christians and Muslims.
Olszewski stressed that framing Nigeria’s crisis solely as Christian persecution overlooks broader capacity challenges in security and governance.
Representative Pramila Jayapal and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs warned against oversimplifying the violence as targeting Christians alone, calling attention to intersectional drivers of conflict and cautioning against Trump’s “guns-a-blazing” rhetoric, which could inflame religious tensions and endanger humanitarian programs.
Calls for Action
Anagbe urged Congress to support targeted sanctions, expand humanitarian assistance for displaced persons, push for the Nigerian Religious Freedom and Accountability Act, and challenge discriminatory blasphemy laws.
He stressed coordinated political, military, and humanitarian intervention is needed to halt the escalating violence.
The hearing reflected deep divisions over US policy, balancing concerns for religious freedom, national sovereignty, and effective engagement in Nigeria’s complex security landscape.