Top officials of the Federal Government and the National Assembly are set to travel to Washington D.C. in a diplomatic move to stop possible United States sanctions over alleged persecution and genocide of Christians in Nigeria.
The high-powered delegation, which includes federal lawmakers, senior military officers, and heads of security agencies, will meet with members of the U.S. Congress to clarify Nigeria’s position and counter the growing narrative of “Christian genocide.”
The trip follows an urgent resolution by the 10th Senate, sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume, who urged the government to “put the record straight” and prevent sanctions against the country.
According to sources, the delegation will present evidence to prove that the security crisis in Nigeria is not religiously motivated but rather a result of terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts. The team is expected to depart Abuja early next week.
In recent months, U.S. lawmakers and advocacy groups have increased pressure on Nigeria over rising attacks on Christian communities. Senator Ted Cruz recently accused Nigeria of “mass murder” of Christians and introduced the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025” (S.2747).
The proposed bill seeks to list Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” a move that could trigger travel bans, arms restrictions, and other economic sanctions.
The Nigerian Senate had earlier dismissed the genocide allegations as “false and dangerous,” warning that such claims could damage the country’s image and inflame religious tensions.
Lawmakers maintained that the ongoing violence is complex and tied to criminality and resource struggles, not state-backed religious persecution.
Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) shows that between January 2020 and September 2025, over 11,800 civilian attacks were recorded in Nigeria. Among them, 385 incidents involved Christian victims, while 196 targeted Muslims, reflecting the widespread nature of insecurity across regions.
The Federal Government considers the Washington mission crucial to maintaining bilateral relations with the U.S. and protecting Nigeria’s access to international security partnerships.
Officials fear that any sanctions could strain cooperation in intelligence sharing, counterterrorism, and defense support.
Meanwhile, some U.S. lawmakers remain firm in their stance. Representative Anna Luna said, “Christians are being hunted and slaughtered in Nigeria for their faith — and the world stays silent. If this were any other group, there’d be global outrage.”
Her colleague, Nancy Mace, added: “Defend Nigerian Christians. Islamic terrorists are killing believers for worshipping Christianity while the world is looking the other way.”
It could be recalled earlier this month, the Nigerian Senate condemned similar claims made by foreign advocacy groups, describing them as politically motivated and disconnected from the realities of the country’s security challenges.
They don’t need to travel to US prove a point. There going there is to waste our resources as the American senators have enough evidence to prove their point .
When they were killing n burning churches were were u people? Chibok girls in Bornu state, are they moslems? Were there no moslems girls in Bornu? Y were they not kidnapped n kill like they did to d chibok girls? All d killings in plateau n thousands kill n buried in benue, Southend kaduna,Niger, nibo in Enough n countless others. Numerous churches burnt, pastors kill. How many mosques were burnt. Now, bcos of fear of sanctions, they are running helter-skelta with compromised Christian appointees n pastors to deny genocide against Christians. Do u think d West dnt know what is happening in Nigeria?
The federal governments and its arms can go ahead and bribe their way to cover the lies and narratives but God is watching. Nobody can cover evil forever.. Shame on them who are working hand to hand to carry out this genocide and ethnic cleansing.. We know the truth.
Christians are main target
Don’t mind the evil leaders.
Even the killing of Deborah in Sokoto college of education, the blood of the Christian faithful is crying to high heavens
Certainly Christians are being persecuted
on daily basis, many killed and maimed because of their firm belief in Christianity. There is no doubt about it. The Nigeria authorities may colour it and try to cover it but the United States and its Parliament knows the truth.
Is it now that our leaders are desperate to waste taxpayers money to travel to US to present their side of stories? Are they not living in this country. May be they are now worries for the fear of being sanction knowing that it will affects them – the ruling elites.
I agree with Emma Egbe. Nigerian government is very insensitive about lives.Everything about government in Nigeria is highly compromised. A lot of genocides is going on in Nigeria.how long will human lives be used for political reasons.There is so much blood that is been poured on daily basis. Terrorist attacks is a daily business purported by our leaders.Christians in the north are been slaughtered. Churches are burnt.families are in IDPs camps. I repeat government is highly compromised.Council of Churches in Nigeria are now paying salaries to the displaced clergymen in different dioceses through inventions funds. Because there churches are burnt down by terrorists and some members are killed.
Now let’s do a survey. How many of these churches that got burnt down in many states in Nigeria are been rebuilt or rehabilitated. There governors are busy running to Abj to hide and pay attention to president.
Pls American government should act fast. Really the representative from Federal government are highly compromised and will never detail the truthfulness in killings. Enough is enough.
God please use US government to interfere.
God will punish all the delegation going to tell lies in America. The over 20 people murdered in a Catholic Church Owo Ondo State, were they not murdered by Fulani Islamic Jihadists. Can you count the No of Christians murdered in cold blood in Southern Kaduna, Benue and Plateau State. Series of Mass Burials and when Buhari visited one of the Mass Burials he said the murdered should go and have pea with their assailants. No promise
of bringing the Islamiat Jihadusts to Justice. See what Senatoe Odume is advocating. These are devil’s in human clothe. God will punish all of you enemy of Christianity in Nigeria
You are sending high powered delegation to explain to a sovereign nation why you could not provide security to your country and why you chose to dilly darling with criminals who swore to wipe out your citizens with every means necessary.
Why not also tell them how much you are spending to bring these delegation to explain your roles in the insecurity in your country.
It’s important the leaders of this nation are held accountable for their wickedness against citizens. Christians are being slaughtered in the middle belt, even upto Enugu State in the South East by terrorists Fulanis and yet you want the world to believe it is not genocide. Of course it is genocide they must be held accountable.
Genocide in Nigeria is a manace that needs to be haulted. They know the truth but they keep playing politics with people’s life.
Christian genocide should be stop now
#Free Nnamdi Kanu
#Christian genocide
The government of America should arrest whoever is there, where were the so call Senate when Christians are been massacred in the northern and the middle BELT, thousands have been massacred in in Yelwata Benue State, and in Jos and other dairy killings in the state must especially Christians.
There is lots of evidence to prove that the Christian in Nigeria are not safe, while are we afraid of tagging Nigeria to a country of particular concern the government that doesn’t care about the lives of a citizen.
Is Nigeria cannot survive without US, their claim is false,both religions are targeted,most of people killed were Muslim. Only 5% Christians were killed.
The skin de hear more than ear
Medicine after death.How I wished you rose up to the killings of Christians during the regimes of late Muhammadu Buhari and it has continued up till now.No arrest and prosecution made so far by the Nigerian authorities.
You can’t fool the American government and its people.What goes round comes around.
The federal government of Nigeria is a failed state. They should allow America do the needful
They should please give us the heaviest sanction in the world, we deserve it
I CAME TO GAMBOLU NGALA IN THE YEAR 1978, THE TOWN IS 145 KILOMETERS AFTER MAIDUGURI , THE CAPITAL OF BORONU STATE, I LEFT GAMBOLU IN 1988 TO MAIDUGURI, (THE CAPITAL). I LEF THE CAPITAL IN 1993, DURING THE ABIORA ELECTION CRISIS, MY SHOPS ARE THERE, UNTIL 1999. I WAS THERE WHEN SHETIMA BECAME GOVERNOR OF BORNU STATE. BOKO HARRAM WAS IMPORTED AS A POLITICAL THURGS. AFTER THE ELECTATIONS, THEY BECAME UNTURCHABLE, UNTIL ONE DAY THEY SLAPED AN AMRY OFFICER AT AMRY CHECKPOINT INSIDE TOWN, THIS IS HOW KEROSENE ENTERED THE GARRI BAG. WHEN MILITARY FACES THEM FOR SOME DAYS THEY THEY FREE TO THE BUSH AND REINFORCED BACK WITH A NAME BOKO HARRAM. TO FACE THE OUR AMRY, UPTILL TODAY, LET US SET RECORDS IN LINE. (1) WHAT IS THE
MEANING OF BOKO HARAM. (2) WHO IMPORTED THOSE GUYS THEN AS POLITICAL THURGS. (3) WHO IS THE GOVERNOR THEN.
The US government knows all the secrets our government is hiding.Tge trip to Washington is a waste of time and money.The thieves that are travelling over to the US are going to face a panel of people who know how much they have stolen from Nigeria individually by names.
Denying genocide won’t help the government.Admitting it will assist us to get help and quash this nonsense going on.Israel confronted the evil of extermination perpetrated by Hamas and other groups sponsored by Iran to destroy it.Today,Israel is safer than yesterday.
Stop the genocide of Christians.Ww cannot continue like this.No.We cannot.
Lies and false hoods won’t help us as a nation.