The United States House Appropriations Committee has issued a fresh warning on the rising attacks against Christians in Nigeria.
According to the Committee, the country is fast becoming “one of the most dangerous places on Earth to follow Christ,” citing the worsening state of religious freedom and the steady increase in targeted violence.
The statement was released on Saturday night through the Committee’s official channel, and it marks one of the strongest comments yet from an American legislative body on Nigeria’s security challenges.
The lawmakers stressed that the situation can no longer be overlooked and called for firmer intervention from Washington.
In the post, the Committee noted, “Nigeria is rapidly becoming one of the most dangerous places on Earth to follow Christ, and as Robert Aderholt made clear in a roundtable this past week, we can’t ignore this crisis.”
It also added that members would continue to defend religious liberty across the world.
Rep. Robert Aderholt, a senior figure in the House and a longstanding advocate for global religious freedom, reinforced the concerns.
He stated that the violence faced by Christian communities in Nigeria demands stronger attention from the U.S. government.
According to him, the testimonies and reports reaching Congress show a pattern of persecution that cannot be dismissed.
Aderholt explained that protecting vulnerable communities must remain a priority and commended ongoing efforts to ensure the U.S. Presidency receives detailed updates on the situation. He warned that ignoring these attacks would only deepen the crisis.
Nigeria has been under growing scrutiny from foreign governments and human rights groups for several years.
The country continues to battle Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, and armed herder–farmer clashes, many of which severely affect Christian communities in the Middle Belt and northern regions.
Several towns across Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Taraba, and parts of Niger State have suffered repeated raids, with homes burnt, churches destroyed, and villagers abducted or killed.
While Nigerian authorities often describe the violence as criminal activity driven by economic motives, many international observers argue that the pattern shows clear religious targeting.
Some U.S. lawmakers have gone as far as calling it “religious cleansing,” pointing to consistent attacks on churches and Christian-majority settlements.
Aderholt and other members of Congress have held a series of hearings and roundtable meetings in recent months to examine reports of persecution.
These sessions have included testimonies from victims, researchers, and advocacy groups who detailed the scale of attacks and the lack of effective protection for affected communities.
The debate in Washington has also revived concerns over Nigeria’s previous appearance on the U.S. “Country of Particular Concern” list.
Nigeria was added to the list in 2020 but removed the following year, a decision that drew backlash from several American lawmakers. Many of them are now pushing for stronger diplomatic pressure and a review of U.S. policy toward Nigeria.
The latest comments from the House Appropriations Committee suggest that the issue may play a role in upcoming budgetary and foreign-policy decisions.
There are indications that Congress may recommend stricter conditions for military assistance and humanitarian support if Nigerian authorities fail to improve protection for targeted groups.
Advocacy organisations monitoring global religious persecution have welcomed the Committee’s renewed attention.
They described this development as another sign that Nigeria’s security crisis is no longer seen as a local challenge but a growing international concern.
A fantastic Observation.