Thirty-one members of the United States Congress have applauded President Donald Trump for designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over the alleged persecution of Christians.
They described the move as a necessary step to confront what they called “a growing Christian genocide” in Africa’s most populous nation.
The commendations were contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by House Values Action Team Chairman Rep. Robert Aderholt.
The statement was seen by our correspondent on Thursday.
In the statement, the lawmakers said the Trump-led action gave “hope to the people of Nigeria” and signalled a strong US commitment to defending religious freedom globally.
“President Trump’s commitment to end the Christian genocide in Nigeria and his designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern gives hope to the people of Nigeria. This persecution of Christians must end,” Congressman Aderholt said
He added that “terrorist groups in Nigeria” had “killed thousands of believers annually,” stressing that the United States must “lead in confronting this violence” and defend people of faith around the world.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer commended Trump’s stance, saying, “God bless President Trump for standing up and protecting Christians around the globe. The United States finally has a leader unafraid to do what’s right.”
Also, the Grand Old Party Chair, Lisa McClain, described the situation in Nigeria as “a moral outrage and a crime against humanity,” while Rep. Josh Brecheen, Mary Miller, and Mark Alford expressed support for sanctions and stronger international pressure on those responsible for religious attacks.
Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, Rep. Chris Smith, noted that Trump’s decision restored the 2020 CPC designation that was “unjustifiably” lifted by the Biden administration.
He said the action was “a powerful step forward in holding the Nigerian government accountable for its complicity in the unchecked murder, rape, and torture of Christians.”
Other lawmakers, including Don Bacon, Andy Biggs, Gus Bilirakis, and Tim Walberg, echoed similar sentiments, urging Washington to use “every diplomatic and strategic tool” to protect Nigerian Christians and push for accountability.
Recall that Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, claimed that Christianity was facing an “existential threat” in Nigeria, blaming radical Islamists for the widespread violence.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern,’” Trump wrote.
