By Palang Paul
In a rare moment of bipartisan urgency on African security and religious freedom, senior U.S. lawmakers have unveiled landmark legislation aimed at confronting what they describe as systemic and escalating persecution of Christians in Nigeria — a crisis that has claimed tens of thousands of lives over the past decade and a half.
The proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (H.R. 7457), obtained exclusively by The Daily Caller, seeks to compel stronger U.S. action against religious violence, extremist militias, and foreign actors exploiting Nigeria’s insecurity. At its core, the bill demands transparency, accountability, and consequences — both for perpetrators of violence and for failures within Nigeria’s security architecture.
What the Bill Seeks to Do
Introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, and co-sponsored by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV), the legislation outlines several major provisions:
Annual Reporting Requirement: The U.S. Secretary of State would be mandated to submit detailed annual reports to Congress on efforts to address religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.
Terror Designation Review: The bill calls for a formal review of whether Fulani ethnic militias meet the criteria for designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
Sanctions and Aid Scrutiny: It requires an assessment of whether U.S. security and development assistance to Nigeria is being misused or indirectly enabling religious persecution.
Foreign Exploitation Warning: The bill also highlights concerns over illegal Chinese mining operations, warning that foreign exploitation is worsening insecurity and undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Supporters say the legislation builds on actions already taken by both Congress and the White House — but goes further by tying policy commitments to measurable accountability.
A Crisis Years in the Making
According to figures cited in the bill, between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria between 2009 and 2025, alongside widespread church burnings, village raids, kidnappings, and sexual violence. Human rights advocates argue that Islamist extremist groups and armed militias have operated with near-impunity, particularly in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern regions.
“The Nigerian government’s blatant denial of the religious persecution occurring within its borders has only allowed this violence to fester,” Rep. Smith said in a statement. “Christian deaths and church attacks have reached unprecedented levels.”
Images from past attacks — including the 2011 Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Abuja — continue to serve as grim reminders of a conflict many say the world has ignored for too long.
Trump’s Role and Renewed U.S. Pressure
The bill also references actions taken under President Donald Trump, who in November 2025 redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under U.S. religious freedom laws. That designation opened the door to economic and diplomatic pressure, signaling a shift away from years of muted international response.
In December 2025, Trump authorized coordinated strikes with Nigerian forces against terrorist targets linked to attacks on Christian communities — a move supporters say sent a clear message that religious persecution would no longer be treated as a regional issue.
“As part of the investigation President Trump asked me to lead, I visited Nigeria and saw firsthand the horrors our brothers and sisters in Christ endure,” Rep. Riley Moore said. “This bill makes clear that the United States stands with the persecuted — not just in words, but in action.”
Growing Support in Congress
The legislation has already attracted backing from influential House Republicans, including Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), vice chairman of Appropriations; and Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and East Asia among many others.
Lawmakers say the bill is expected to move swiftly through the House, reflecting growing concern that unchecked religious violence in Nigeria poses both a humanitarian catastrophe and a broader security threat.
Voices From the Frontlines
Outside government, advocates working on the ground cautiously welcomed the proposal.
Judd Saul, head of Equipping the Persecuted and Truth Nigeria, described the bill as “a step in the right direction,” praising lawmakers for acknowledging the scale of the crisis after years of diplomatic silence.
“For too long, these atrocities have been minimized or mischaracterized,” Saul said. “Accountability is long overdue.”
Why This Matters Beyond Nigeria
Supporters of the legislation argue that defending religious freedom abroad is not just a moral obligation, but a strategic imperative.
“Defending religious liberty globally serves vital American interests,” Rep. Cole said, adding that the bill reinforces a clear message: religious persecution will not be tolerated.
As Nigeria remains Africa’s most populous nation and a key U.S. security partner, the outcome of this legislation could reshape Washington’s engagement with West Africa — and signal whether the international community is finally prepared to confront one of the world’s deadliest, yet least addressed, religious freedom crises.
Palang Paul reports on security and conflicts for The Nigeria Times
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