US Congress meets over claims of rising Christian persecution in Nigeria

2nd December, 2025

The United States House Appropriations Committee is set to host a joint congressional briefing on Tuesday to examine claims of intensified persecution of Christian communities in Nigeria.

In a notice shared on X by Congressman Riley Moore, it was revealed that the session will be chaired by the Committee’s Vice Chair and head of its National Security Subcommittee, Mario Díaz-Balart. He will be joined by other members of the Appropriations Committee, alongside lawmakers from the Foreign Affairs and Financial Services Committees.

Officials from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, together with several subject-matter specialists, are slated to address the gathering.

According to the announcement, the briefing aims to draw renewed attention to rising violence and targeted attacks on Christians in Nigeria.

The roundtable will form part of a broader report requested by President Trump on the killings of Nigerian Christians, and will outline recommendations for how Congress can bolster White House efforts to safeguard vulnerable religious groups globally.

Committee representatives said the meeting is intended to equip legislators with up-to-date insights into the challenges faced by religious minorities.

They added that the testimony gathered will shape the final report that will guide future US policy on the matter.

The briefing comes at a time of deepening cooperation between Washington and Abuja on security issues.