This week, the House Appropriations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee joined forces to address a chilling issue: the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. In a press release, lawmakers revealed that President Trump had urged them on October 31 to investigate this topic and report their findings. The urgency of the situation was palpable, especially in light of recent attacks against Christian communities.
During the briefing, experts shared the stark realities faced by these villagers. Vicky Hartzler from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom emphasized the new wave of violence that hit just prior to the meeting. “Just a few days ago, on November 22, 303 children and 12 teachers were abducted in an attack on St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Niger State,” she recounted. “A few days earlier, in Kwara State, gunmen besieged a church, kidnapped several innocent people, including a pastor, and killed two others.” Hartzler applauded Trump for identifying Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” regarding religious persecution but made it clear that improvements in governance were essential. “The U.S. government should work directly with the government of Nigeria to vastly improve its accountability and transparency,” she insisted. No one, she said, “should live in fear because of how they worship.”
Recognizing the pervasive violence, lawmakers considered suggestions aimed at alleviating the suffering. Hartzler argued for the implementation of early warning systems to prevent community violence. “Too many times, local villagers learn of an impending attack and reach out for protection, only to have their cries for help ignored to their ultimate demise,” she stated, underscoring the dire need for responsive action from Nigerian officials.
Sean Nelson, a senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom International, painted a grim picture based on his firsthand discussions with persecuted Christians. “Our cases have involved Christians unjustly imprisoned by Sharia courts, false allegations for merely evangelizing or protecting converts, Christians kidnapped and tortured, and girls taken from their parents, forced into marriages and converted to Islam,” he detailed. Nelson’s accounts spoke to the broader crisis: the aftermath of attacks, including beheaded pastors, mass graves, and the destruction of homes and churches, paints a haunting image of vulnerability for Christians in Nigeria.
Adding depth to the conversation, Ebenezer Obadare from the Council on Foreign Relations highlighted the role of Boko Haram in this ongoing tragedy. “Boko Haram’s barbarous campaign to overthrow the Nigerian state and establish an Islamic caliphate is the source of Nigeria’s present discontents,” he explained. Obadare was clear: any effort to resolve the crisis must confront Boko Haram head-on. “Every proposal that does not take seriously the need to radically degrade and ultimately eliminate Boko Haram as a fighting force is a non-starter,” he stated.
The joint briefing underscored the steadfast determination of U.S. lawmakers to address pressing international issues and advocate for the safety and freedom of vulnerable populations. The testimony shared during the meeting highlighted not only the urgent need for action against widespread persecution but also the resilience of affected communities and the ongoing commitment of organizations to support them.
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