A United States (US) Congressman, Bill Huizenga, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of not doing enough to confront persistent attacks on Christian communities across Nigeria.
Addressing Congress, Huizenga criticised what he described as a pattern of downplaying or excusing repeated killings in parts of the country, particularly in northern Nigeria.
He questioned why large-scale retaliatory attacks were not occurring in Christian-majority regions if, as he suggested, the violence were mutual.
“Do we see Christians killing Muslims in Christian-dominated areas of Nigeria the way we are seeing radicalised Muslims killing Christians in Muslim areas of Nigeria?” he asked.
The congressman said his interest stemmed not only from official reports but also from personal links to Nigerians and Americans with long-standing ties to the country.
“I went to school with kids from Nigeria. I have neighbours who were missionaries there, who have families there, who know this is going on,” he said.
Huizenga also criticised what he described as attempts both internationally and within US Congress to minimise the scale of the crisis.
He argued that such rhetoric undermined efforts to protect vulnerable communities.
“Not just mass media, we have people in Congress denying that this is happening or deemphasising it. It is outrageous that Christians, moderate Muslims, anyone is being terrorised by these radical Muslims, and we’ve got the Tinubu government sitting back and not doing enough,” he said.
He further questioned why Nigerian officials had travelled to the United States “to downplay this and give excuses,” insisting such efforts should be rejected. “It should be called out for what it is,” he added.
Huizenga’s comments follow a meeting between another US lawmaker, Congressman Riley M Moore, and senior Nigerian government officials led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu in Washington, DC.
The high-level delegation included the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; and other security and diplomatic officials.
According to a statement, the meeting “allowed for a frank, honest, and productive discussion” on the persecution of Christians, terrorist threats, and potential areas of cooperation between both countries.
The Nigerian delegation outlined ongoing challenges related to counterterrorism, security assistance, and the protection of vulnerable communities.
In response, Moore disclosed that the United States expected “tangible steps” to ensure Christians are not subjected to violence, displacement, or death.
“We stand ready to work cooperatively with the Nigerians to help their nation combat terrorism perpetrated by Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani militants,” Moore said, noting that President Donald Trump had made it clear the US would not tolerate continued religious persecution.
Moore added that he would continue pressing the Nigerian government to accept US cooperation “to stop the ongoing persecution and violence against Christians and combat the threat terrorist groups pose to the Nigerian population.”
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