House Republicans Push for Action on Religious Persecution in Nigeria
On Tuesday, House Republicans unveiled a resolution aimed at urging the U.S. government to document “religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.” This information comes from the Daily Caller.
Dubbed the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Responsibility Act of 2026, this proposal would mandate the Secretary of State to prepare an annual report for the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees regarding U.S. efforts to tackle Christian persecution. Additionally, it asks the Secretary to evaluate the classification of Fulani militias as foreign terrorist organizations, investigate potential sanctions, and assess the impact of U.S. aid on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The resolution is co-sponsored by New Jersey Republican Rep. Chris Smith, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs and Africa Subcommittee, alongside West Virginia Republican Rep. Riley Moore. It’s designed to build on existing measures from both legislative and executive branches to address terrorism in Nigeria.
Moreover, the resolution urges the Secretary of State to respond to “hostile foreign exploitation” from China’s illegal mining activities in Nigeria.
Support for the bill has already been conveyed by other House Republicans, including Florida Rep. Brian Mast, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and several others noted in a statement by Smith.
The bill is anticipated to pass through the House of Representatives swiftly, linking it to earlier actions taken by former President Donald Trump regarding persecution in Nigeria.
Reflecting on past actions, in November 2025, Trump designated Nigeria as a country of special concern. This designation enables the use of economic and diplomatic measures against the nation, which included collaborating with Nigerian authorities for a strike against perpetrators during Christmas.
Smith articulated the necessity for the U.S. to follow Trump’s example and exert pressure on Nigeria’s government to “address and punish” systematic violence against both Christians and moderate Muslims from Islamic extremist groups.
“The Nigerian government’s outright dismissal of religious persecution has intensified violence based on religion, resulting in staggering numbers of Christian deaths and assaults on churches,” Smith remarked.
The resolution cites estimations of between 50,000 and 125,000 Christian martyrs from 2009 to 2025, highlighting widespread destruction of churches, mass kidnappings, rapes, and attacks on communities.
Moore, who was personally involved in an investigation initiated by Trump, shared his experiences in Nigeria, noting the severe challenges faced by Christians there. He emphasized that this resolution signifies America’s support for those experiencing persecution.
Judd Saul, director of Equipping the Persecuted and Truth Nigeria, which reports on the atrocities, remarked that the resolution is “a step in the right direction,” commending Smith and Moore for their advocacy.
