Packed House Hearing Exposes Nigeria’s Christian Persecution Crisis—and U.S. Inaction

The air was thick with tension Wednesday morning as the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa convened a hearing titled “Conflict and Persecution in Nigeria: The Case for a CPC Designation.” By 9:00 a.m., Room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building was standing room only, a rare sight that underscored the gravity of Nigeria’s spiraling religious violence—particularly against Christians—and the growing impatience with America’s tepid response.

Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ), a dogged champion of religious liberty, opened with a blistering litany of failed U.S. efforts to prod Nigerian officials into action against terrorism and impunity. “We’ve tried for years—meetings, resolutions, pleas—and gotten crickets,” he said, voice edged with frustration. Smith recounted how moderate imams who dare criticize the bloodshed face instant retaliation, a chilling reality that exposes the stakes. Since 2009, he noted, over 18,000 churches have been razed in northern Nigeria alone, with countless Christians slaughtered or displaced by Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram, and Islamic State offshoots.

The hearing’s crux: should Nigeria reclaim its spot as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC)—a U.S. label for nations with egregious religious freedom violations, triggering sanctions? Tony Perkins, former chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and a Family Research Council stalwart, didn’t mince words. “The U.S. must redesignate Nigeria as a CPC,” he declared. “More Christians are killed there than anywhere else on Earth. It’s time for an unmistakable message.” Perkins’ urgency landed like a gavel in a room already simmering with outrage.

Yet not everyone saw it through the same lens. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) pushed back, arguing that Nigeria’s woes stem from “poor governance” fueling “extremism of any religion.” Her claim drew skeptical murmurs. What Christian extremism, critics asked, is driving thousands of murders targeting Muslims each year? The data points the other way: Open Doors ranks Nigeria as the deadliest place for Christians, with over 4,000 killed in 2024 alone—almost all by Islamist groups. Jayapal’s deflection rang hollow against the testimony of witnesses like Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, who’ve watched their flocks bleed out in the Middle Belt.

One bombshell dropped mid-hearing: a witness spotlighted the Nigerian Supreme Court’s recent upholding of a death sentence against Sunday Jackson, a Christian farmer convicted for killing an attacker in self-defense. The case, decried as a judicial travesty, has sparked international fury, amplifying calls for U.S. pressure. Rep. Andrew Olszewski (R-MT) seized the moment, urging incoming Secretary of State Marco Rubio to visit Nigeria and see the carnage firsthand. “He needs to look at this himself—religious freedom, security, all of it,” Olszewski said. It’s a bold idea that could jolt Washington out of its diplomatic slumber.

Nigeria’s government has dodged accountability while extremists run rampant. The Biden administration’s 2021 decision to delist Nigeria as a CPC—despite USCIRF pleas and a Christmas Eve 2023 massacre of 200 Christians—still rankles. With Trump’s return looming, the packed room signaled a hunger for change. But will a CPC tag force Nigeria’s hand, or just sour ties with a key African ally rich in oil and minerals?

For now, the cries of Nigeria’s Christians—echoed by a standing-room crowd in D.C.—demand more than condolences. They demand action. Whether Rubio takes up Olszewski’s challenge could define the next chapter.