US Congress presents report of Christian persecution in Nigeria to President Trump

• Says Nigeria world’s deadliest place to be Christian

From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja

The United States Congress has presented its findings on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria to President Donald Trump.

United States Congressman, Riley Moore, who submitted the report to the White House, announced the development of his X handle.

In the report, titled, ‘Ending The Persecution of Christians in Nigeria,’ the Congress described Nigeria as the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian.

It noted that in Nigeria, Christians are subjected to ongoing violent attacks from well-armed Fulani militias and terrorist groups, resulting in the death and murder of tens of thousands of Christians, including pastors and priests, the destruction of thousands of churches and schools, as well as kidnappings.

The Congress commended President Trump for his decisive action to re-designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) to hold perpetrators of violence to account and compel the Government of Nigeria to protect vulnerable communities and end religious persecution.

President Trump had directed Moore and the Appropriations Committee chair, Tom Cole, to investigate and produce a report on the persecution and slaughter of Nigerian Christians.

“To examine the facts, Appropriations Committee’s vice chair man, Mario Diaz-Balart, hosted an investigative roundtable and led a Congressional delegation to Nigeria. The House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, Brian Mast and Africa Subcommittee chairman, Chris Smith, held a hearing to gather evidence from the government and civil society witnesses. The close collaboration culminated in the following recommendations.

“After decades of persecution, Nigeria is the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian. Christians are subject to ongoing violent attacks from well-armed Fulani militias and terrorist groups, resulting in the death and murder of tens of thousands of Christians, including pastors and priests, the destruction of thousands of churches and schools, as well as kidnappings,” the United States Congress said. The Congress further said blasphemy laws in Nigeria’s northern states are used to silence speech and dissent, target Christians and minorities, and justify so-called convictions without due process.

It added that President Trump’s bold action and attention from Congress, has created a once-in-a-generation opportunity for real change to address the two-decades-long crisis.

“Although the Government of Nigeria is a key partner for the United States, such government must demonstrate the political will, including by allocating their own financial resources, to immediately reduce and then eliminate the violence. 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 Congress also said.

In its recommendations, the Congress called on President Trump to strike a bilateral agreement between the United States and the Government of Nigeria to protect vulnerable Christian communities from violent persecution, eliminate jihadist terror activity in the region, further economic cooperation and counter adversaries in the region, including the Chinese Communist Party and Russian Federation. “Such an agreement should include commitments by the Government of Nigeria to co-fund donor-supported humanitarian assistance, including through faith-based organisations, and to prioritise underserved communities of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and their host communities, especially in the predominantly Christian Middle Belt region.

“Support and respond to early-warning mechanisms to prevent attacks and kidnappings, including by deploying sufficient and capable security forces to the Middle Belt to enable rapid and effective response, and hold those who ignore the warnings accountable.“Remove Fulani militias from confiscated, productive farmland and enable the voluntary return of displaced communities to their homes, including by ensuring security and infrastructure, thereby reducing the need for humanitarian aid and generating economic development through increased agricultural productivity,” the Congress further said.

Other recommendations were that the government should continue and expand security cooperation with the United States, including by divestment of Russian military equipment for American military equipment through sales and financing; technical support to the Government of Nigeria to reduce and then eliminate violence from armed Fulani militias, including by developing a demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration programme to address illicit weapons and support safer communities while allowing farmers to engage in legitimate self-defence.

The Congress also recommended the support of the new Ministry of Livestock, ranching plans and meaningful land reform efforts; and enhancing the recruitment, technical capabilities and willingness of the security forces and military to prevent and respond to violent attacks.

While calling for a comprehensive counter-terrorism cooperation to rid the region of foreign terrorist organisations that pose a direct threat to the American homeland, including through the provision of excess defence equipment and use of relevant drawdown authorities, the Congress further called for the counteract of the hostile foreign exploitation of Chinese illegal mining operations and their destabilising practice of paying protection money to Fulani militias.

The Congress also recommended the implementation of the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026, to support the preceding recommendations and priorities, such as increased accountability by requiring proof of progress before obligating additional funds; programmes to address religious freedom, atrocity response, legal reforms, expand and improve policing, strengthen the criminal justice sector, improve anti-money laundering methods and enhance capabilities to disrupt terrorist financing networks, as well as capture illicit monies from Fulani militia members; treasury department programmes and activities to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system which will safeguard the US national security and enhance the favourable balance of trade for the United States; United States Development Finance Corporation investments in Nigeria, especially in the Middle Belt.

The recommendations also include GAO audit report on the effectiveness of aid to Nigeria and recommendations for strengthened oversight; invoke and publicly announce the CPC presidential directives to name and shame perpetrators of violence; implement sanctions on groups and individuals who participate in, or tolerate violence against Christians; continue visa restrictions for perpetrators involved in Christian violence and violations of religious freedom; demand the repeal of sharia codes and criminal anti-blasphemy laws; review and use points of leverage to compel Fulani herdsmen to disarm, including by blocking export of beef and other cattle-related products to countries like Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Africa and Senegal. Ensure adequate staffing of diplomatic posts in Nigeria; improve the Foreign Military Sales process to expedite the procurement and delivery of defence articles and services necessary to support shared security priorities; require a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Nigeria’s sectarian and communal violence and review classifying Fulani militia groups with links to terror groups, as well as other groups conducting organised campaigns of violence that threaten the United States, as a foreign terrorist organisation; and enlist the support of international partners, including France, Hungary and the United Kingdom.