A coalition of Republican senators in the United States has formally requested that Secretary of State Marco Rubio reconsider labeling Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), citing persistent acts of violence and terrorism targeting religious minorities.
The senators contended that Christians across Nigeria have been facing ongoing and extensive attacks.
According to Sahara Reporters, their appeal was delivered through a joint letter endorsed by Senators Ted Budd, Josh Hawley, Pete Ricketts, Ted Cruz, and James Lankford.
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The lawmakers pointed out that Nigeria was previously classified as a CPC by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in December 2020 due to serious violations of religious freedom committed largely by nonstate actors, including Boko Haram and other terrorist organizations.
They observed that although Secretary of State Antony Blinken removed Nigeria from the CPC list in 2021, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended on March 25, 2025, that Nigeria be reinstated, citing continued violent incidents targeting religious minorities.
The senators referenced several deadly attacks against Christians in recent years to support their request.
They cited major incidents, including kidnappings and mass killings in Niger and Benue States, highlighting the severity and scale of the violence.
They further noted that recent reports indicate Nigeria remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians, with thousands of fatalities concentrated within the nation.
The senators also emphasized former US President Donald Trump’s initiatives to strengthen global religious freedom, including establishing the Religious Liberty Commission.
They highlighted the executive order’s role in enforcing federal protections for religious liberty and fostering collaboration with the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom.
Additionally, the senators referenced Trump’s 2019 address at the United Nations, where he called for global action against religious persecution and for the protection of all believers’ rights.
In closing, the senators expressed their appreciation for Trump’s efforts to advance religious freedom and urged Secretary Rubio to act promptly on Nigeria’s designation as a CPC.
This development comes after reports from SaharaReporters indicating that the US government has voiced “deep concern” over sustained violence against Christians and other vulnerable populations in Nigeria, urging stronger government action in Abuja.
The renewed appeal follows public commentary from American comedian Bill Maher, who highlighted the increasing deaths of Christians at the hands of extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa.
In response to inquiries from Newsweek, the US State Department confirmed that it has consistently raised concerns with the Nigerian government at the highest levels regarding attacks on religious communities.
The department emphasized that Nigeria must implement stronger measures to prevent repeated attacks and align its laws with international commitments to religious freedom.
According to the international advocacy organization Open Doors, Nigeria ranks as the seventh most dangerous country in the world for Christians, reporting that more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than anywhere else globally.
The Nigerian government, however, has dismissed claims of systematic attacks against Christians, calling such reports “false, baseless, despicable, and divisive.”
