Prime officers of the Federal Authorities and the Nationwide Meeting are set to journey to Washington D.C. in a diplomatic transfer to cease attainable United States sanctions over alleged persecution and genocide of Christians in Nigeria.
The high-powered delegation, which incorporates federal lawmakers, senior navy officers, and heads of safety companies, will meet with members of the U.S. Congress to make clear Nigeria’s place and counter the rising narrative of “Christian genocide.”
The journey follows an pressing decision by the tenth Senate, sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume, who urged the federal government to “put the file straight” and stop sanctions towards the nation.
In response to sources, the delegation will current proof to show that the safety disaster in Nigeria will not be religiously motivated however moderately a results of terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts. The workforce is predicted to depart Abuja early subsequent week.
In latest months, U.S. lawmakers and advocacy {groups} have elevated strain on Nigeria over rising assaults on Christian communities. Senator Ted Cruz lately accused Nigeria of “mass homicide” of Christians and launched the “Nigeria Non secular Freedom Accountability Act of 2025” (S.2747).
The proposed invoice seeks to listing Nigeria as a “Nation of Explicit Concern,” a transfer that might set off journey bans, arms restrictions, and different {economic} sanctions.
The Nigerian Senate had earlier dismissed the genocide allegations as “false and harmful,” warning that such claims might injury the nation’s picture and inflame non secular tensions.
Lawmakers maintained that the continued violence is advanced and tied to criminality and useful resource struggles, not state-backed non secular persecution.
Knowledge from the Armed Battle Location & Occasion Knowledge Mission (ACLED) exhibits that between January 2020 and September 2025, over 11,800 civilian assaults have been recorded in Nigeria. Amongst them, 385 incidents concerned Christian victims, whereas 196 focused Muslims, reflecting the widespread nature of insecurity throughout areas.
The Federal Authorities considers the Washington mission essential to sustaining bilateral relations with the U.S. and defending Nigeria’s entry to worldwide safety partnerships.
Officers worry that any sanctions might pressure cooperation in intelligence sharing, counterterrorism, and protection assist.
In the meantime, some U.S. lawmakers stay agency of their stance. Consultant Anna Luna mentioned, “Christians are being hunted and slaughtered in Nigeria for his or her religion — and the world stays silent. If this have been every other group, there’d be international outrage.”
Her colleague, Nancy Mace, added: “Defend Nigerian Christians. Islamic terrorists are killing believers for worshipping Christianity whereas the world is trying the opposite means.”
It might be recalled earlier this month, the Nigerian Senate condemned comparable claims made by overseas advocacy {groups}, describing them as politically motivated and disconnected from the realities of the nation’s safety challenges.