The United States Congress witnessed heated exchanges on Thursday as lawmakers strongly disagreed over how to interpret Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs cautioned colleagues against adopting what she described as dangerously simplistic narratives about Nigeria’s “multiple, complex, overlapping” security crises.
She made the remarks during discussions on claims of Christian-targeted killings and former President Donald Trump’s reinstatement of Nigeria on the Country of Particular Concerns (CPC) list. Nigeria was first placed on the list in 2020 during Trump’s administration, but President Joe Biden removed it after assuming office. Trump returned Nigeria to the list last month and went further by threatening military intervention.
The hearing exposed deep divisions in Congress. Some lawmakers insisted the situation in Nigeria amounted to a “Christian genocide”, while others argued that the country’s insecurity was far more complicated than religious framing.
On Wednesday, Congressman Riley Moore, a strong supporter of the genocide classification, met with Nigeria’s delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu in Washington. Moore said the meeting was a “frank, honest, and productive discussion” centred on alleged Christian persecution and ongoing terrorist threats. He noted that the Nigerian officials spoke about security cooperation, counterterrorism operations, and protecting vulnerable groups.
The Nigerian delegation includes senior security and policy officials such as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Odimegwu-Ojukwu, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Intelligence Lieutenant-General E.A.P. Undiandeye, as well as diplomats and advisers from the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Embassy in the U.S.
Jacobs, who represents California’s 51st District, criticised Trump’s threat of unilateral military action, calling it “reckless” and harmful to already vulnerable communities. She argued that presenting Nigeria’s insecurity solely as religious violence distorts facts and inflames tensions. Drawing from her experience working on strategies to counter Boko Haram at the State Department, she stressed that both Christians and Muslims are victims of insecurity.
She cited recent incidents, including killings and a church kidnapping in Eruku, Kwara State, alongside the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State, as examples of the widespread impact of violence.
According to her, “The violence affecting both Christian and Muslim communities is real, and the Nigerian government can and should do more.” She added that the rhetoric could worsen tensions, warning that “A military-led approach risks more civilian casualties and impunity, which will only fuel violent extremism more.”
Jacobs also emphasised that any unilateral military action in Nigeria would be unlawful under U.S. and international law, noting that “Congress has not authorised the use of force in Nigeria” and such action without Nigeria’s consent would violate global norms.
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal also pushed back against the Christian-only narrative, stating that “The killings in Nigeria aren’t just the persecution of Christians. It is the persecution of multiple groups.” She warned that framing it narrowly was “simplistic”.
However, Congressman Bill Huizenga argued that the Nigerian government was failing to confront the escalating crisis. Speaking before the House Subcommittee on Africa, he accused Nigeria’s delegation of playing down the severity of the situation during their visit. He said he told a Nigerian TV station that the government is “not doing enough”, adding that the delegation’s explanations should be “rejected”.
A Catholic bishop, Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, also addressed the hearing via video link, lamenting the suffering of Christian communities. While acknowledging concerns, he noted that some experts believe many of the conflicts stem from resource struggles rather than strictly religious motivations.
In a post shared on X, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, acknowledged the strong ties between Nigeria and the U.S. He highlighted past U.S. assistance, including training Nigerian forces during the Boko Haram insurgency and ongoing cooperation in intelligence and security exercises, but said these measures were not sufficient to counter the scale of current threats.
Oge Onubogu, Director of the Africa Programme at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Centre for Strategic and International Studies, told the hearing that viewing Nigeria’s security troubles strictly as religious conflict was counterproductive. She said the rise in mass killings and lack of accountability had fuelled perceptions of “Christian genocide”, leaving communities feeling abandoned.
She urged the Nigerian government to prioritise accountability and called for improved diplomatic engagement, including appointing a Nigerian ambassador to the U.S. Onubogu noted that Nigeria’s centralised police structure is inadequate for its complex security needs and called for accelerated reforms, including deploying the 30,000 additional police personnel approved by President Bola Tinubu in June.
She stressed that the military is overstretched, taking on duties that should fall to the police, and advised reallocating officers from providing personal security for elites to tackling serious crime.
The analyst also emphasised better coordination between federal and state authorities, saying constant finger-pointing undermines progress. According to her, Nigeria must strengthen its security, justice, and conflict prevention institutions, while the U.S. should maintain open dialogue and support a more informed understanding of Nigeria’s complex realities.
