The US House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Africa is set to hold a hearing on Thursday to examine allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria, following President Donald Trump’s re-designation of the country as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC).”
The move has sparked intense debate, with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu dismissing the claims as a misrepresentation of the country’s religious reality.
Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee Chris Smith emphasized the gravity of the situation, saying, “The slaughter of innocent Christians in Nigeria demands a strong response from the United States.”
Smith has introduced a resolution targeting the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, recommending sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, against members of these groups.
The hearing will also scrutinize the alleged role of Fulani-ethnic militias in Benue and Plateau states, with a proposal to place them on the Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) list under the International Religious Freedom Act.
Jonathan Pratt, Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of African Affairs, and Jacob McGee, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, will testify on the first panel.
The second panel features prominent voices, including Nina Shea, Director of the Centre for Religious Freedom, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi Catholic Diocese, and Oge Onubogu, Director and Senior Fellow, Africa Programme, Centre for Strategic & International Studies.
Congressman Riley Moore said: “We are a Christian nation, and we must stand up for the persecuted,” alleging a 5:1 Christian-to-Muslim death ratio in Nigeria.
The CPC designation, if upheld by the Senate, could lead to sanctions, aid restrictions, and potential military action.
However, Congressman Bill Huizenga doubts military intervention, suggesting economic pressure might be more effective in curbing violence.
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