US Lawmakers warn against oversimplifying Nigeria’s insecurity amid Christian genocide debate

US Lawmakers warn against oversimplifying Nigeria’s insecurity amid Christian genocide debate

United States lawmakers have cautioned against framing Nigeria’s security challenges solely as a religious conflict, highlighting the complex and overlapping nature of violence in the country. The warnings came during a congressional hearing in Washington, D.C., addressing President Donald Trump’s Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation of Nigeria over alleged Christian-targeted killings.

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, a Democrat from California, criticized Trump’s threat of unilateral military action in Nigeria, calling it “reckless” and potentially dangerous for communities already facing widespread insecurity. Jacobs stressed that both Christian and Muslim communities are victims of violence, citing the recent Eruku church attack in Kwara State and the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State as examples.

“The violence affecting both Christian and Muslim communities is real, and the Nigerian government can and should do more,” Jacobs said. She warned that unilateral military threats could exacerbate divisions and fuel violent extremism.

Other lawmakers, including Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, echoed the need for nuanced analysis, rejecting a one-sided narrative that frames the crisis purely as Christian persecution.

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Meanwhile, Congressman Bill Huizenga argued that the Federal Government of Nigeria is not doing enough to tackle the worsening insecurity. He accused the Nigerian delegation, led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, of downplaying the crisis during engagements with U.S. lawmakers.

The hearing also featured testimony from Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, a Catholic bishop, who highlighted the plight of Christians while acknowledging that some experts see Nigeria’s conflicts as rooted in resource disputes rather than solely religious lines.

Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, emphasized Nigeria’s ongoing security partnership with the United States, including training, intelligence cooperation, and joint exercises against terrorist groups like Boko Haram, noting that existing measures remain insufficient to match the scale of the threat.

Oge Onubogu, Director of Africa Programme at Harvard Kennedy School’s CSIS, stressed that viewing Nigeria’s security issues solely through a religious lens is counterproductive. She recommended reforms including police expansion, better coordination between federal and state security agencies, and greater accountability of both perpetrators and authorities.

Onubogu also advised appointing a Nigerian ambassador to the U.S. to improve international engagement and counter misleading narratives, arguing that institutional weaknesses in Nigeria’s security, justice, and conflict prevention systems must be addressed to end the violence effectively.

US Lawmakers warn against oversimplifying Nigeria’s insecurity amid Christian genocide debate