House Republicans Introduce Bill to Address Christian Persecution in Nigeria
House Republicans, led by Rep. Chris Smith from New Jersey and Rep. Riley Moore from West Virginia, put forth a proposal on Monday. This bill aims to mandate the State Department to deliver a comprehensive report on U.S. initiatives aimed at safeguarding Christians who are being persecuted due to various jihadist terrorist threats in Nigeria. Additionally, the bill seeks to push the Nigerian government to take these threats seriously.
Called the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Responsibility Act, this legislation aligns with former President Donald Trump’s efforts to protect Christians, particularly in Nigeria. Under Trump’s administration, Nigeria was designated as a country of particular concern (CPC) regarding religious freedom. This designation allows for potential sanctions if Nigeria supports human rights abuses based on religious beliefs. While Trump included Nigeria on this list during his first term, former President Joe Biden removed it shortly after taking office, causing frustration among advocates for religious freedom. Trump reinstated Nigeria on the CPC list in October.
If this new bill passes, it would obligate the State Department to keep tabs on specific jihadist groups in Nigeria that might qualify as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs). The bill also requires documentation of any significant steps the Nigerian government takes to repeal “blasphemy” laws prevalent in several Muslim-majority regions of the country.
The State Department is expected to deliver its first report within three months of the bill’s passage, followed by annual reports until Nigeria is removed from the CPC list. This report will evaluate Nigeria’s adherence to the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act, address actions against blasphemy laws, assess Nigeria’s provision of humanitarian assistance to persecuted Christians, and identify individuals and entities that might face sanctions.
According to the bill, estimates suggest that between 50,000 and 125,000 Christians were martyred, and over 19,000 Christian churches were either attacked or destroyed from 2009 to 2025. The text underlines the severe violence inflicted by Fulani militias, commonly known as “Fulani herdsmen.” Nigeria grapples with consistent attacks from these militias, alongside Boko Haram in the north and various terrorist factions linked to the Islamic State.
“These militias have committed attacks involving targeted killings, hostage-taking, armed assaults, and mass civilian killings, among other violent acts,” the text notes. A humanitarian organization, Open Doors, reported that 72% of Christians killed for their faith worldwide in 2025 were from Nigeria.
The bill critiques Nigeria for permitting Muslim-majority states to impose Sharia law, including blasphemy laws that are reportedly used to persecute non-Muslims. According to the report, Nigeria enforces blasphemy laws which carry the death penalty and are aimed at both Christians and Muslims, as well as dissenters. It also states that the Nigerian government frequently denies the reality of religious persecution and fails to adequately address or prevent violence motivated by religion.
Under President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian government has dismissed the occurrence of religiously motivated violence. Tinubu criticized the CPC designation, asserting, “The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect the reality of our country.” His administration argues that it has made consistent efforts to uphold religious freedoms for all Nigerians.
However, tensions remain high, as senior officials from the Tinubu administration push back against the idea of constitutional amendments meant to strengthen religious freedom protections, particularly against Sharia law.
“We disagree with this notion of amending the constitution,” stated Daniel Bwala, a policy communications advisor to the president. He added that Nigeria is a sovereign nation and has never been colonized by the United States.
Despite these internal issues, the Nigerian government has worked with the U.S. regarding airstrikes targeting the Islamic State in northwestern Nigeria, and it was noted this month that a small U.S. military team has been dispatched to help curb jihadist violence.
After introducing the bill, Congressman Smith emphasized its necessity, given “the Nigerian government’s blatant denial of religious persecution occurring within its borders.” He warned that both the Nigerian and U.S. governments’ inaction could further embolden extremist groups, leading to more suffering for Christians and moderate Muslims in Nigeria. He stressed the importance of the U.S. commitment to promoting and protecting global religious freedom.
Congressman Moore also highlighted the “unspeakable violence” against Christians in Nigeria, recounting his own experiences during a trip to the country, which allowed him to observe the grave challenges faced by Christians there.
