U.S lawmakers
U.S lawmakers push sanctions on Nigerian governors, others over ‘Christian genocide’ claims
A major diplomatic clash may be brewing between Nigeria and the United States as the U.S. Congress debates a bill seeking to impose sweeping sanctions on a number of northern Nigerian governors, traditional rulers, and senior judicial officers accused of complicity in what American lawmakers describe as “Christian persecution” under Nigeria’s Sharia and blasphemy laws.
The proposed legislation, titled “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025”, was introduced on September 9, 2025, by Republican Senator Ted Cruz. It designates Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)” for religious persecution and mandates direct sanctions against public officials or religious figures allegedly involved in or tolerant of faith-based violence.
Under the bill, the U.S. Secretary of State must, within 90 days of its passage, submit to Congress a list of Nigerian officials — including governors, judges, and monarchs — who have “promoted, enacted, or maintained blasphemy laws” or “tolerated violence by non-state actors invoking religious justification.”
Sanctions would be implemented under Executive Order 13818, which operationalizes the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, potentially resulting in visa bans, asset freezes, and financial restrictions on those found culpable.
The renewed U.S. pressure follows a post by former President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform last Friday, in which he accused Nigerian authorities of turning a blind eye to the “genocide of Christians.”
Trump, who previously designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern during his administration, urged Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole to urgently investigate the situation.
He warned that if Nigeria’s government fails to stop what he called “the killing of Christians,” the United States could halt all aid — and even consider military intervention.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’” Trump wrote.
READ ALSO:
In a similar tone, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared on X (formerly Twitter) that his department is “preparing for action” if Nigeria fails to protect its Christian population.
A major highlight of the proposed bill is its focus on the implementation of Sharia law in 12 northern Nigerian states, which U.S. lawmakers claim has institutionalised discrimination against Christians and other minorities.
The states include Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kebbi, Yobe, Kaduna, Niger, and Gombe.
Sharia law, reintroduced in northern Nigeria between 1999 and 2000 following the country’s return to civilian rule, expanded its jurisdiction beyond personal and family law to include criminal provisions for Muslims.
The U.S. bill argues that these laws have created an environment enabling mob violence and the persecution of religious minorities, citing incidents such as the murder of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto in 2022 and similar blasphemy-related killings in Kano and Bauchi States.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed the allegations as “inaccurate and misleading,” insisting that the country remains committed to religious freedom and constitutional democracy.
In a policy statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government emphasised that Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution prohibits the adoption of any state religion (Section 10) and guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion (Section 38).
“Sharia in Nigeria is not a nationwide or compulsory system,” the government said.
“Only Muslims are subject to Sharia-based criminal codes in certain northern states, and non-Muslims cannot be tried under those provisions.”
The statement added that even where Sharia courts issue judgments, constitutional safeguards such as fair hearing and due process apply, with secular appellate courts maintaining oversight.
READ ALSO:
Nigeria further argued that many incidents described internationally as religious violence are in fact linked to terrorism, communal conflict, or resource competition, rather than faith-based persecution.
“Boko Haram and ISWAP remain proscribed terrorist organisations,” the note read.
“Thousands of arrests and prosecutions have been carried out under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act without discrimination on religious grounds.”
Nevertheless, human rights advocates and religious freedom monitors have repeatedly raised concerns about blasphemy-related violence and mob justice in the country.
Several high-profile killings — including that of Deborah Samuel, Bridget Agbahime, and Usman Buda — have drawn international condemnation amid criticism that perpetrators rarely face justice.
Senator Cruz, defending his bill, said:
“Since 2009, over 52,000 Christians have been murdered, 20,000 churches and faith institutions destroyed, and dozens of villages wiped out. The federal and state governments have failed to act — in many cases, they are complicit.”
If enacted, the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act would compel the U.S. to impose targeted sanctions on Nigerian officials enforcing or tolerating Sharia and blasphemy laws.
It would also reaffirm Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa as “Entities of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016.
Analysts warn that passage of the bill could strain U.S.–Nigeria relations, affecting security cooperation, trade, and diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
For now, the Nigerian government maintains that it upholds religious liberty for all citizens and will continue to engage diplomatically to correct what it calls a “mischaracterisation” of its legal and cultural framework.
Punch
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Multiple Ballistic Missiles, Drones in Major Defence Operation Saudi Arabia’s air defence…
Iran Continues Crude Oil Exports to China Despite Middle East Conflict Iran has maintained a…
Nigerian Midfielder Daniel Daga Jailed in Norway for Sexual Assault Nigerian footballer Daniel Daga has…
Quack Doctor Sentenced to Death for Murder in Ekiti An Ekiti State High Court sitting…
Galatasaray Beat Liverpool 1–0 in Champions League Last‑16 First Leg Galatasaray secured a crucial 1–0…
Omisore Sues APC Over Osun Governorship Primary Disqualification Fresh tension has rocked the All Progressives…