Call to Action: Redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith urged the redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern due to ongoing religious freedom violations. Expert witnesses, including Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, shared testimonies highlighting severe persecution of Christians by militant groups. Smith’s resolution for redesignation gained committee approval but did not reach the House floor, prompting renewed legislative efforts.

U.S. Representative Chris Smith (NJ-04), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, recently convened a hearing addressing the ongoing violations of religious freedom in Nigeria. During this session, expert witnesses supported Smith’s call for Secretary Marco Rubio to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.” This designation, previously applied by President Trump, was aimed at protecting persecuted Christians in Nigeria.

Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the diocese of Makurdi testified to the dangerous conditions in Nigeria, describing militant Fulani herdsmen as terrorists who commit acts of violence and enjoy impunity. Smith noted, “Militant Fulani herdsman are terrorists. They steal and vandalize, they kill and boast about it…” This impunity exemplifies the lack of accountability from Nigeria’s government amid rising persecution.

Smith recalled that President Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern in December 2020, a decision that was controversially reversed by Secretary Blinken in November 2021. Religious leaders in Nigeria expressed outrage at this reversal, feeling it undermined efforts to protect vulnerable communities.

Support from Smith is further corroborated by findings from Genocide Watch, which labeled Nigeria a “killing field of defenseless Christians.” Smith highlighted that over 52,000 Christians and about 34,000 moderate non-Fulani Muslims have been killed since 2009 due to targeted violence, causing approximately five million individuals to become internally displaced.

In the past year, the House Foreign Affairs Committee adopted Smith’s resolution H. Res. 82, urging the Biden Administration to restore Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern. Although it passed in committee, it did not reach the House floor for a vote. Smith has since reintroduced the resolution as H. Res. 220, affirming the urgency of the situation.

The congressional hearing, titled “Conflict and Persecution in Nigeria: The Case for a CPC Designation,” included testimony from various experts. Bishop Anagbe articulated a long-term agenda aimed at eradicating Christian identity in Nigeria, citing a combination of violent and non-violent methods. He noted, “This strategy includes both violent and non-violent actions, such as the exclusion of Christians from positions of power…”

Director Nina Shea emphasized Nigeria’s alarming position as the deadliest country for Christians globally, stating that more Christian deaths occur here than in all other regions combined. The Fulani Muslim herders are identified as significant threats to Christian communities, particularly in the Middle Belt, where religious tensions are most pronounced.

Tony Perkins, former chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, criticized the media’s negligence regarding the severe violence impacting Nigeria, stating, “In Nigeria, vicious attacks and bloodshed continue to surge, week after week… Christians are the primary targets of this terrorism.”

In summary, the congressional hearing highlighted the urgent need for the U.S. to reassess Nigeria’s religious freedom status. Expert testimonies underscored the severe persecution of Christians, urging the Biden Administration to reinstate Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern. With millions displaced and escalating violence against religious minorities, stakeholders emphasize the necessity for immediate action to protect vulnerable populations in Nigeria.

Original Source: anglican.ink