U.S. Lawmakers Hold High-Level Briefing on Rising Insecurity and Targeted Attacks in Nigeria

U.S. House Appropriators and Foreign Affairs leaders convened on Dec. 2 to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and the rising wave of targeted violence against Christians. The session followed a directive from President Donald Trump, who instructed the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the killings of Christians in Nigeria and report directly to the White House.

The briefing was led by House Appropriations Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chairman Mario Díaz-Balart. Members of the House Appropriations Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee and several religious freedom experts were also in attendance.

Opening the session, Díaz-Balart condemned the killings and stressed that religious freedom is “both a moral obligation and an essential American interest.” He emphasized that no one should fear for their safety because of how they choose to worship and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing policies that protect the freedom of faith without intimidation, violence or retaliation.

Rep. Robert Aderholt echoed the same message, urging the United States not to overlook the crisis.

“We must stand firmly with Nigeria’s Christian communities and all persecuted believers worldwide, and I commend our collaborative efforts to provide the President with the information needed to confront this growing tragedy,” Aderholt said.

Other lawmakers, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, also spoke strongly against the ongoing attacks. Mast rejected claims that the violence is merely communal or resource-driven.

“This is a targeted campaign of religious cleansing. Whether it is Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, or radicalized nomadic Fulani militants, the objective is to drive Christians out of their ancestral lands in the Middle Belt and impose a radical Islamist ideology,” Mast said. “As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I firmly stand with President Trump in his decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.”

The briefing came shortly after President Bola Tinubu approved Nigeria’s delegation to the newly formed U.S.–Nigeria Joint Working Group, which includes senior ministers and security officials. The initiative aims to strengthen counterterrorism operations, intelligence sharing, border security and humanitarian response efforts.

Back home, Nigeria’s House of Representatives is expected to open debate on the state of national security, with the proposed state police bill topping the agenda. If passed, the bill would allow quicker law enforcement response times and provide a more localized approach to tackling terrorist attacks and armed violence.

Nigeria’s insurgency has increasingly become a global point of concern, drawing criticism, travel warnings and international scrutiny. The country’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” adds another layer of diplomatic pressure, and with the United States signalling the possibility of deeper involvement, the long-term impact on Nigeria remains uncertain.