Washington, D.C. — The United States House Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday convened a high-level congressional roundtable to assess urgent next steps for addressing what lawmakers described as a worsening crisis of Christian persecution in Nigeria. The session, reported by Media Church News, brought together senior members of Congress, religious freedom experts, and policy advisors to examine legislative and diplomatic responses to escalating violence targeting Christian communities.
The roundtable was held under the auspices of the House Committee on Appropriations and featured remarks from several Members of Congress, including Riley Moore, Chris Smith, Mario Díaz-Balart, Brian Mast, and Robert Aderholt.
Also addressing lawmakers was Sean Nelson, Senior Counsel for Global Religious Freedom at ADF International. Additional expert testimony was delivered by U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair Vicky Hartzler and Dr. Ebenezer Obadare of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Lawmakers Examine Escalating Violence
During the discussion, participants reviewed mounting evidence of targeted killings, mass abductions, and systematic destruction of churches across Nigeria. Extremist groups and armed militias, including Islamist insurgents and Fulani militants, were cited as key perpetrators. Lawmakers noted that despite the scale of the atrocities, accountability remains rare and perpetrators continue to operate with near-total impunity.
“Nigeria represents one of the gravest Christian persecution crises in the world today,” several members of Congress warned, stressing that continued inaction risks further destabilisation and loss of life.
Nelson told the committee that the current moment presents a rare opportunity for effective intervention.
“This is a real opportunity to stop, in large measure, one of the worst persecution situations in the world,” Nelson said. “We do not have to wait until it is too late. We can act — with a real chance of success — now.”
International and Diplomatic Context
Nelson’s appearance before Congress follows his participation in a November United Nations event hosted by the United States Mission to the United Nations, where the crisis in Nigeria was discussed alongside Ambassador Mike Waltz, FOX News anchor Harris Faulkner, and internationally known artist Nicki Minaj, who has recently used her platform to advocate for persecuted Nigerian Christians.
Lawmakers were reminded that in October 2025, under President Donald Trump, the U.S. government redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), a classification reserved for nations that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom.
Policy Recommendations on the Table
Experts and legislators outlined several concrete measures for U.S. engagement, including:
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Strengthening security in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, where Christian communities face the most severe attacks, and improving early-warning response systems.
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Ending impunity by prosecuting individuals responsible for religiously motivated violence and holding negligent officials accountable.
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Supporting the safe return of millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and prioritising reconstruction of churches, schools, and homes destroyed in attacks.
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Repealing and ending enforcement of blasphemy laws, while ensuring prosecution of mob violence linked to religious accusations.
The discussion followed a November letter sent to President Trump by a coalition of religious freedom advocates, urging stronger pressure on the Nigerian government to protect vulnerable Christian populations.
Congressional Voices
Representative Riley Moore described the hearing as a critical step toward accountability.
“Our brothers and sisters in Christ are being persecuted and slaughtered in Nigeria simply for professing their faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Moore said. “That’s why President Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, and why the House Committee on Appropriations is examining this horrific persecution. I’m grateful for the expert testimony we received today.”
Moore also commended ADF International for its advocacy and legal defense of persecuted believers.
Another member added that the hearing signaled a shift in international attention: “The world will no longer turn a blind eye to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.”
A Crisis Defined by Bloodshed and Displacement
Nigeria remains among the most dangerous countries globally for Christians. In 2025 alone, estimates indicate that more than 7,000 Christians were killed because of their faith. Since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009, between 50,000 and 100,000 Christians are believed to have lost their lives in religiously motivated violence.
Church destruction has become a defining feature of the crisis. In Benue and Plateau States alone, more than 9,500 people — mostly Christians — were killed between May 2023 and May 2025, with approximately 500,000 newly displaced due to targeted attacks on their communities.
