The House of Representatives has strongly rejected a claim made by the United States Senate that described Nigeria’s security problems as a “genocide against Christians” or as state-sponsored religious persecution.
The lawmakers’ decision followed a call by U.S. legislator Riley Moore, who urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take urgent diplomatic action over what he called the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in Nigeria. Moore, in his statement dated October 6, had referred to Nigeria as the deadliest place in the world for Christians and demanded that the country be re-listed as a “Country of Particular Concern.” He also called for the suspension of U.S. arms sales to Nigeria until its government shows a “tangible commitment” to ending the killings.
In response, a motion was presented by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, and supported by all members of the House. Lawmakers rejected the claim and instructed relevant committees to work with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Embassy in Washington D.C., and security agencies to submit a formal diplomatic protest against the sponsors of the U.S. resolution within 21 days.
Speaking on the motion during a session aired on the National Assembly TV, Kalu explained that the motion, titled “Need for a Coordinated Diplomatic and Domestic Response to the Proposed Nigerian Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (U.S. Senate Bill 2747),” was necessary to correct what he described as “the mischaracterisation of Nigeria’s security and religious freedom landscape.”
He stated, “The House rejects outrightly narratives that frame Nigeria’s security crisis as a singularly religious conflict or a state-sponsored persecution.”
Kalu further emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen freedom of thought, conscience, and religion and forbids the adoption of a state religion. According to him, both past and current governments, as well as security agencies and faith leaders, have made efforts to protect worshippers and bring offenders to justice.
He explained that the U.S. Senate Bill 2747, introduced on September 9, 2025, seeks to compel the U.S. Secretary of State to label Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and impose sanctions on Nigerian officials under the Global Magnitsky framework.
Kalu warned that the bill, which he said was based on “incomplete or decontextualised assessments,” could distort facts, damage diplomatic relations, and encourage violent groups.
He added, “Insecurity in Nigeria is complex and multi-causal. It is driven by insurgency, criminal banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, separatist violence, and communal disputes that affect citizens of all faiths. International reporting attributes a significant share of fatalities to terrorist groups and criminal gangs, rather than to state policy or any single religious dynamic.”
The Deputy Speaker reaffirmed that Nigeria remains committed to protecting religious freedom and upholding human rights, noting that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of violence.
He said, “We condemn all forms of violence and persecution against any person or group on the basis of religion or belief and commiserate with all victims, irrespective of faith.”
While stressing that Nigeria values its long-standing partnership with the United States, Kalu said the country’s sovereignty must not be undermined.
He added, “We are mindful of Nigeria’s longstanding partnership with the United States, especially on counterterrorism, human rights, democratic governance, and interfaith dialogue. However, external legislative actions that misrepresent our situation risk undermining that partnership.”
To address the issue, the House directed its Committees on Foreign Affairs, National Security and Intelligence, Information, and National Orientation to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Embassy in Washington D.C., and other relevant agencies to submit a formal diplomatic protest to the sponsors of the U.S. bill within 21 days.
The lawmakers also advised engagement with U.S. legislators to set up a joint Nigeria-U.S. fact-finding committee on religious freedom. The committee would include faith leaders and independent experts, while the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) would be invited to a hearing before the Nigerian House of Representatives.
Additionally, the House instructed the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigeria Police, and the Department of State Services to present within 30 days a detailed report on investigations and prosecutions connected to religion-linked violence since 2023. The report, according to the lawmakers, will help prove that there is “no state-sponsored persecution based on religion.”
The resolution is to be forwarded to the Presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. State Department, the African Union, and ECOWAS for necessary diplomatic communication.