The United States House Appropriations Committee has reiterated Washington’s resolve to confront religious persecution worldwide, with particular attention on Nigeria. The committee made the declaration in a statement shared on its official X account on Wednesday.
“America will not look away as innocent lives are stolen. Directed by @POTUS, Appropriators led an on-the-ground mission to inform a report on Christian persecution in Nigeria and guide policy recommendations. Religious freedom and atrocity response are central to our NSRP bill,” the message read.
The reaffirmation follows a recent visit to Nigeria by a US delegation acting under the direction of President Donald Trump. The team held meetings with Nigerian authorities and community leaders to assess claims of religiously motivated violence.
Earlier in the week, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu confirmed that he received the American delegation in Abuja as part of ongoing bilateral consultations on security. He said the engagement built on previous talks in Washington and focused on counter-terrorism efforts, regional stability and strengthening defence cooperation between both countries.
One member of the visiting team, Rep. Riley Moore, described the mission as “very productive,” noting that he also met with Tiv and Catholic leaders in Benue State during the trip.
The visit took place amid growing diplomatic friction after the Trump administration returned Nigeria to the list of Countries of Particular Concern over alleged violations of religious freedom—an action accompanied by stern warnings about potential US military involvement. Nigerian officials have repeatedly dismissed such allegations, arguing that insecurity affects citizens across religious lines.
On November 20, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted Ribadu at the Pentagon for further discussions on Nigeria’s security challenges. That same day, the US House Subcommittee on Africa convened a public hearing to review the implications of Nigeria’s redesignation.
Tensions heightened last week when House Republicans revisited concerns about religious violence in Nigeria during a joint briefing ordered by President Trump. In October, he directed Moore and the Appropriations Committee to investigate what he termed the “slaughter of Christians” and report their findings to the White House.
