US Congress To Hold Hearing On Persecution Of Christians In Nigeria

The United States Congress is set to hold a hearing on alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, with lawmakers expected to examine the Nigerian government’s efforts to tackle religious violence and insecurity, particularly in the country’s Middle Belt region.

The hearing will be led by Chris Smith, Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

According to a statement from Smith’s office issued on Monday, the session is titled “One Year Later: Assessing Nigeria’s Efforts to Protect Christians and Secure the Middle Belt.”

The hearing will assess measures taken by the Nigerian government to protect vulnerable communities, prevent religious violence and ensure that individuals responsible for attacks are brought to justice.

US lawmakers are also expected to consider possible steps Washington could take to ensure that Nigerian authorities strengthen efforts to prevent violence against Christians and moderate Muslim communities.

Smith, a Republican representative from New Jersey, will be presiding over his 14th congressional hearing focusing on the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

The hearing will feature two panels of witnesses. The first panel will include Frank Garcia, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Riley Barnes, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour.

The second panel will feature Nina Shea, Senior Fellow and Director of the Centre for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute; Ryan Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Open Doors US; and Oge Onubogu, Director and Senior Fellow of the Africa Programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

The session is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. It will also be streamed live on YouTube, allowing members of the public to follow the proceedings.

Other members of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa are also expected to participate in the discussions.

Smith has been among several American lawmakers who have repeatedly raised concerns over allegations of widespread persecution and killings of Christians in Nigeria.

In 2025, US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over allegations of religious persecution and claims of Christian genocide.

The designation was followed by a US military airstrike targeting ISIS-linked terrorists on Nigerian territory on Christmas Day.

Since then, Nigeria and the United States have strengthened their military cooperation, including a partnership aimed at supporting Nigerian forces in combating terrorist groups operating across the country’s northern region.

The forthcoming congressional hearing is expected to renew discussions over religious freedom, insecurity and the protection of vulnerable communities in Nigeria.

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