The United States House Appropriations Committee has reiterated its commitment to combating religious persecution in Nigeria, declaring that “America will not look away as innocent lives are taken.”
The committee made the statement on Wednesday via its official 𝕏 account, following an investigative trip to Nigeria led by congressional appropriators under the direction of former President Donald Trump.
“Directed by @POTUS, appropriators conducted an on-the-ground mission to gather information on Christian persecution in Nigeria and shape policy recommendations,” the post read. “Religious freedom and atrocity response remain central to our NSRP bill.”
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, confirmed the visit, noting that the U.S. delegation was hosted in Abuja as part of ongoing bilateral security discussions. “The visit built on prior engagements in Washington, DC, and focused on counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability, and strengthening the strategic security partnership between Nigeria and the United States,” Ribadu said.
Rep. Riley Moore, one of the visiting lawmakers, described the mission as “very productive,” revealing that the delegation engaged with Christian and community leaders in Benue State, including members of the Tiv and Catholic communities.
The diplomatic initiative comes amid heightened scrutiny of Nigeria’s human rights practices. The Trump administration recently redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for alleged violations of religious freedom, prompting warnings from Congress about possible U.S. military involvement.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims of religious bias, emphasizing that attacks by non-state actors target both Christian and Muslim populations.
On November 20, Ribadu met with U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon to discuss a coordinated approach to insecurity in Nigeria. That same day, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa held a public hearing to examine the CPC redesignation and its implications.
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Earlier, House Republicans reiterated concerns about ongoing violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern regions. According to U.S. lawmakers, on October 31, President Trump directed the House Appropriations Committee to investigate attacks on Christians in Nigeria and provide a report to the White House.
