US House appropriators and foreign affairs leaders held a rare joint briefing investigating what they describe as escalating, targeted violence against Christians in Nigeria, following a directive from former President Trump to probe the crisis. Key officials, including Vicky Hartzler and other experts, warned that “religious freedom [is] under siege,” with Christians being targeted “at a 2.2 to 1 rate” and entire villages attacked by “radical Muslims.”
Analysts insisted the violence is driven by religion, not balanced casualties, and argued that Nigeria’s security forces are “too corrupt and incompetent” to dismantle extremist networks without external pressure. Witnesses urged Congress to impose sanctions, restrict visas, tighten oversight of US aid, and pressure Abuja to reclaim captured communities. Sean Nelson described Nigeria as “the deadliest country in the world for Christians,” while lawmakers criticized the Biden administration for removing Nigeria from the US list of countries of particular concern.