United States lawmakers have urged Nigeria to abolish Sharia law in northern states and dismantle Hisbah religious enforcement bodies.
The call came during a joint House briefing on Tuesday, in response to President Donald Trump’s October directive and Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
Experts warned that Sharia law and Hisbah officials continue to fuel systematic anti-Christian persecution.
Dr. Ebenezer Obadare, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, told Congress that extremist groups—including Boko Haram, ISWAP, and radicalised Fulani militias—exploit these institutions to impose extremist ideology, enforce forced conversions, and operate with near-total impunity.
Obadare proposed a two-pronged approach. First, he urged direct US support for the Nigerian military to neutralise Boko Haram.
Second, he recommended sustained diplomatic pressure on President Bola Tinubu to make Sharia law unconstitutional in the twelve northern states and disband all Hisbah commissions.
“As recent events have shown, Nigerian authorities are not impervious to incentives,” Obadare said. “Since the CPC designation and Trump’s warning of possible unilateral action against Boko Haram, President Tinubu has ordered air strikes, recruited 30,000 additional police officers, and declared a national security emergency. Yet, more action is needed. Washington must keep up the pressure.”
The bipartisan session, led by Appropriations Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart and attended by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, highlighted repeated accusations that the Nigerian government has failed to stop religious killings across the north and Middle Belt.
Witnesses cited incidents including the November 22 abduction of pupils and teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State, ongoing blasphemy prosecutions, and mass killings. They rejected claims that the conflict is solely about resource disputes.
Obadare stressed that jihadist terror remains the deadliest threat to Nigeria. He said, “Boko Haram’s campaign to overthrow the Nigerian state and establish an Islamic caliphate is the source of Nigeria’s current discontents. Any solution that ignores the need to defeat Boko Haram is a non-starter.”
Lawmakers including Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) called for the disarmament of militias and prosecution of attackers. Witnesses from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and Alliance Defending Freedom International urged the use of US security aid, early-warning systems, and targeted sanctions to enforce accountability.
The briefing also underscored Trump’s October redesignation of Nigeria as a CPC. The designation follows repeated religious freedom violations and includes warnings that US aid could be withheld if Nigeria fails to act against Christian persecution.
Congressional support is growing for measures aimed at reversing Sharia criminal law in the north and dismantling Hisbah forces, viewed as essential steps to protect religious minorities.