By DAYO ADESULU
On US sanctions, the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa has approved stringent sanctions on Nigeria, citing the Nigerian government’s failure to protect Christian communities from widespread violence.
US Approves Sanctions on Nigeria Over Christian Killings
The US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa has given President Donald Trump the authorization to impose harsh sanctions on Nigeria following alarming reports of violence against Christians.
The decision of US sanctions was made during a congressional hearing on Wednesday, March 12, where lawmakers condemned the Nigerian government for failing to curb attacks on Christian communities.
According to the committee, a 2024 report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa revealed that Nigeria accounts for 90% of all Christians killed worldwide each year. The report detailed that between October 2019 and September 2023, a staggering 55,910 people were killed, while 21,000 others were abducted by terrorist groups operating in the country.
US Sanctions: Committee Chairman Condemns Christian Persecution in Nigeria
Committee Chairman Chris Smith led the congressional hearing, emphasizing the severity of the crisis. He pointed to testimony from Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Diocese of Makurdi, Nigeria, who provided firsthand accounts of the violence.
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“One of our distinguished witnesses today—Bishop Wilfred Anagbe—traveled a long distance to be with us, and his testimony is both compelling and disturbing,” Smith said.
He further described the Fulani militant herdsmen as terrorists, stating:
“Militant Fulani herdsmen are terrorists. They steal and vandalize, they kill and boast about it, they kidnap and rape, and they enjoy total impunity from elected officials. None of them have been arrested or brought to justice.”
The congressional report linked the killings directly to religious persecution, dismissing attempts to downplay the religious motivation behind these attacks.
“Make no mistake – these attacks are religiously motivated,” the report stated. “Denying this reality contradicts the overwhelming evidence we have seen with our own eyes. This ‘religious cleansing’ must stop, and those responsible must be held accountable.”
US Lawmakers Blast Nigerian Government for Inaction
The congressional panel that recommended US sanctions strongly criticized the Nigerian government for failing to protect its citizens and uphold religious freedoms guaranteed by its constitution.
Lawmakers expressed concern over Nigeria’s judicial system, accusing it of being weaponized against Christian communities. They pointed to cases where blasphemy laws have been used to target religious minorities.
The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee’s approval of sanctions on Nigeria signals the US government’s growing frustration with the Nigerian authorities’ failure to act against terrorism and religious persecution.
What US Sanctions on Nigeria Could Mean
With President Donald Trump now authorized to impose US sanctions on Nigeria, the country could face:
- Travel bans on Nigerian officials linked to human rights violations
- Economic restrictions targeting government agencies accused of negligence
- Military aid limitations over failure to protect Christian communities
This move could further strain US-Nigeria relations, as Nigeria relies on American diplomatic and financial partnerships.
Global Reactions to the US Sanctions on Nigeria
The decision has sparked reactions globally, with human rights organizations calling for urgent international intervention to prevent further bloodshed.
Several countries are currently under United States sanctions, including Russia, Iran, North Korea, China, Venezuela, Syria, and Cuba, among others, due to reasons such as human rights violations, nuclear proliferation, and military aggression. The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) enforces these sanctions, which can range from economic restrictions to trade embargoes and travel bans. Countries like Myanmar, Sudan, Belarus, and Zimbabwe also face targeted sanctions for political repression and other violations.
While the Nigerian government has yet to respond officially, this latest development adds to growing pressure on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take decisive action against religious violence.
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