U.S. Rep. Chris Smith urged the redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern due to ongoing religious freedom violations at a congressional hearing. Testimonies revealed alarming statistics regarding violence against Christians and the failure of the Nigerian government to address it. A resolution to redesignate Nigeria was reintroduced amid recent reports highlighting the escalation of persecution.
U.S. Representative Chris Smith, as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, held a congressional hearing focused on religious freedom violations in Nigeria. During this hearing, expert witnesses supported his appeal to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” a status that the Trump Administration previously utilized to assist persecuted Christians.
Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the diocese of Makurdi testified, emphasizing the horrific actions of militant Fulani herdsmen, stating, “Militant Fulani herdsman are terrorists. They steal and vandalize, they kill and boast about it, they kidnap and rape, and they enjoy total impunity from the elected officials.” This acknowledgment reflects the dire state of religious persecution in Nigeria.
Smith noted that the Trump Administration initially designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern in December 2020, a decision that Secretary Blinken reversed in November 2021, prompting outrage among Nigerian religious leaders. He highlighted the Nigerian government’s failure to adequately address religious persecution, despite constitutional provisions for religious freedom, stating, “the Government of Nigeria has failed to make progress against religiously motivated persecution of Christians.”
The statistics presented by Smith indicate a severe crisis, with over 52,000 Christians killed by Islamist extremists since 2009, alongside numerous attacks on moderate Muslims. These violent acts have resulted in approximately five million individuals, predominantly Christians, being displaced within Nigeria and in surrounding refugee camps.
Last year, the House Foreign Affairs Committee adopted Smith’s H. Res. 82, urging the Biden Administration to redesignate Nigeria. Although it progressed in committee, it never reached a House vote. Smith reintroduced this resolution as H.Res. 220 on March 11, 2025, expressing his belief that President Trump will again designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern to help the persecuted church.
The hearing featured testimonies from several authorities, including Nina Shea from the Hudson Institute, who remarked that Nigeria is alarmingly the deadliest country for Christians. Meanwhile, Tony Perkins from the Family Research Council accused Western media of underreporting the violence inflicted upon Nigerian Christians by radical Islamist groups. Perkins reiterated the sustained targeting of Christians by these groups in ongoing violent conflicts.
The congressional hearing emphasizes the urgent need for the U.S. government to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern in response to the ongoing religious persecution affecting Christians. Testimonies from key witnesses highlighted the severe violence perpetrated by militant groups and the implications of governmental inaction. The need for renewed efforts and support for the persecuted communities in Nigeria remains critical as legislative measures are pursued.
Original Source: anglican.ink
