The has declared Nigeria as the “deadliest place in the world to be a Christian,” calling for sweeping sanctions, security restructuring, and sustained diplomatic pressure to address what it termed escalating violence against Christian communities.
The assertion was contained in a new congressional report titled “Ending the Persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” which urged President to take decisive action. The report commended Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), describing the move as a critical step toward holding perpetrators accountable.
According to the document, shared Tuesday by the House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority, decades of targeted violence have left “tens of thousands of Christians, including pastors and priests” dead. It alleged that well-armed Fulani militias and terrorist groups have carried out sustained attacks on predominantly Christian communities, particularly in the Middle Belt region. 
The report further claimed that thousands of churches and schools have been destroyed, while kidnappings and the enforcement of blasphemy laws in some northern states have been used to silence dissent and target religious minorities. It argued that such laws have enabled prosecutions “without due process.”
Congressional leaders said Trump’s renewed CPC designation presents “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” to confront what they described as a two-decade-long crisis.
The investigation was reportedly led by Congressman alongside House Appropriations Committee Chairman . Appropriations Vice Chair hosted an investigative roundtable, while House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman and Africa Subcommittee Chairman conducted hearings with government officials and civil society witnesses.
Key Recommendations
Among its major proposals, the report called for a bilateral agreement between the United States and Nigeria aimed at protecting vulnerable Christian communities and eliminating jihadist violence.
It urged Nigeria to co-fund humanitarian assistance, prioritise internally displaced persons (IDPs), deploy capable security forces to prevent attacks, and remove armed groups from confiscated farmlands.
The document also recommended:
1. Publicly invoking CPC Presidential Directives to “name and shame” perpetrators.
2. Imposing sanctions and visa restrictions on individuals and groups linked to violence.
3. Reviewing whether certain Fulani militia factions should be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organisations.
4. Repealing Sharia-based criminal codes and anti-blasphemy laws deemed discriminatory.
5. Expanding U.S.–Nigeria security cooperation, including enhanced counter-terrorism measures and intelligence sharing.
6. Conducting a Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit to assess the effectiveness of U.S. aid to Nigeria.
Monitoring Nigeria’s financial system to disrupt terrorist financing networks.
Additionally, the report raised concerns over alleged illegal mining activities involving Chinese actors, claiming such operations may be destabilising communities through protection payments to armed groups.
Congress also encouraged the administration to strengthen diplomatic staffing in Nigeria and collaborate with international partners such as France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom to confront the crisis.
Framing the issue as both a humanitarian emergency and a national security concern, the report warned that continued sectarian violence and terrorist expansion in Nigeria could threaten regional stability and U.S. interests.
“The United States and Nigeria should take this moment to redefine a new strategic partnership to make America – and Nigeria – safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” the report concluded.
