By Peter Omopo
Washington DC / Abuja — Amid escalating reports of kidnappings, mass abductions, and alleged targeted attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria, lawmakers in the United States and Nigeria on Tuesday launched fresh deliberations aimed at addressing the country’s deteriorating security situation.
In Washington DC, key committees of the United States Congress convened a high-level joint briefing ordered by President Donald Trump. The US President had, on October 31, directed the House Appropriations Committee to investigate what he called “the slaughter of Christians” in Nigeria and submit a report to the White House.
The briefing brought together members of the House Appropriations Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and several international religious freedom experts. It was led by Appropriations Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chairman, Mario Díaz-Balart.
US Lawmakers Raise Alarm Over Nigeria’s Crisis
Díaz-Balart opened the session by describing global religious freedom as “a moral obligation and essential American interest,” stressing that “no one should fear for their life because of how they choose to worship.” He reaffirmed US commitment to policies protecting vulnerable communities, noting that his FY26 funding proposals include measures to advance this goal.
Other members of Congress echoed similar concerns.
Rep. Robert Aderholt described Nigeria’s situation as “a crisis that can’t be ignored,” while Rep. Riley Moore linked the briefing to the US redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern due to religious-freedom violations.
Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast said the attacks amounted to “a targeted campaign of religious cleansing,” urging Abuja to disarm militias, restore displaced communities, and prosecute perpetrators.
Rep. Chris Smith of the Africa Subcommittee called Nigeria “the ground zero of religious violence,” insisting that both Christians and moderate Muslims live under “constant threat of murder, rape, and torture.”
Experts Highlight Worsening Violence
Witnesses from religious freedom organisations presented detailed accounts of killings, abductions, and what they described as state inaction.
USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler referenced the recent mass abduction of over 300 children and 12 teachers from a Catholic school, declaring that “religious freedom in Nigeria has been under siege in 2025.”
Sean Nelson of Alliance Defending Freedom reported cases of Christians imprisoned under blasphemy laws, forced conversions, and attacks attributed to armed herders and extremist groups.
Dr. Ebenezer Obadare of the Council on Foreign Relations identified Boko Haram as the most significant threat, urging the US to leverage security cooperation to push Nigeria toward key reforms, including a constitutional review of Sharia law in northern states.
Congressional aides confirmed that a comprehensive report on the crisis will soon be submitted to the White House with recommendations on sanctions, security support, and diplomatic pressure.
Nigeria’s House of Representatives to Debate Security Today
Back in Abuja, Nigerian lawmakers are also set to begin a major debate on the worsening insecurity. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu confirmed that the House will assess recent attacks, kidnapping trends, and rising public fear.
The House is expected to receive updates on the state police bill, with lawmakers indicating that its committee report is ready and will be laid before both chambers this month.
Rep. Mansur Soro disclosed that the bill has been adopted by the Constitution Review Committees of the Senate and House. If approved by two-thirds of state assemblies, the bill will be forwarded to the President for assent.
Several lawmakers repeated calls for state-controlled policing, including Rep. Marcus Onobun of Edo State, who argued that insecurity has outgrown the capacity of a centrally controlled police force.
He described state police as “a national necessity,” insisting that decentralised security would enable quicker response and improved local intelligence.
Rep. Bamidele Salam, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, also endorsed the proposal, saying states — and even local governments — should have their own police forces.
Tinubu Meets Security Chiefs as Measures Intensify
As legislative debates intensify, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday met with service chiefs and heads of security agencies at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting came just hours after he nominated retired Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as the new Minister of Defence following the sudden resignation of Abubakar Badaru.
Last week, the President declared a nationwide security emergency and announced sweeping actions, including:
- Recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers
- Deployment of forest guards
- Enhanced protection of schools, churches, and mosques
- Strengthened border and intelligence operations
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, alongside the heads of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, State Security Service, and Defence Intelligence.
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, was sighted at the Villa during the period, although it was unclear whether his visit was related to the security meeting.
Strengthening US–Nigeria Security Cooperation
This latest congressional briefing comes as security cooperation between both nations deepens. Nigeria recently approved its delegation to the new US–Nigeria Joint Working Group aimed at boosting counterterrorism coordination, intelligence sharing, and protection of civilian populations.
The initiative followed heightened US warnings over rising attacks on Christians and persistent banditry across Nigeria.
Meanwhile, US lawmakers have begun examining the implications of Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern — a classification that could open the door to sanctions against officials implicated in rights abuses.
Debates Continue Today
The Nigerian House of Representatives will today continue deliberations on national security, with lawmakers expected to propose new measures and push forward constitutional amendments aimed at decentralising security operations.
As both Washington and Abuja intensify scrutiny, Nigeria’s security crisis has now emerged as a focal point of global concern, prompting renewed international pressure and domestic reform efforts.
