The United States House Appropriations Committee has restated America’s commitment to tackling global religious persecution, with a particular focus on Nigeria. The committee shared the update yesterday in an official statement posted on its X account.
“America will not look away as innocent lives are stolen. Directed by @POTUS, Appropriators led an on-the-ground mission to inform a report on Christian persecution in Nigeria and guide policy recommendations. Religious freedom and atrocity response are central to our NSRP bill,” the committee said.
The statement came after a visit by a US congressional delegation led by Congressman Riley Moore under the direction of President Donald Trump. Reports by The PUNCH confirmed that the mission was designed to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation and reinforce security ties between both countries. Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, also confirmed the purpose of the visit.
During the trip, Moore met with Tiv and Catholic leaders in Benue State and visited camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs). On X, he described the conditions in the camps as deeply troubling and said he listened to several accounts from individuals affected by violence in the region. He stated that these experiences left a lasting impression on him.
Moore estimated that over 600,000 Christians currently live in IDP camps in Benue State, a region that has experienced long-standing conflict involving farming communities and armed groups. He urged the international community to pay closer attention to the situation.
The congressman also met with religious and traditional leaders including Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, Bishop Isaac Dugu, and Tiv traditional ruler James Ioruza. He described the meetings as meaningful and said discussions focused on ongoing insecurity in Benue and the broader Middle Belt.
Moore also held talks with Nigerian authorities, including Ribadu, on terrorism in the North-East and violence in central Nigeria—issues he described as priorities for both the US and Nigeria. He commended the Nigerian government for rescuing over 100 abducted Catholic schoolchildren and noted the establishment of a joint task force between both countries as progress.
The visit comes at a sensitive diplomatic moment, following the Trump administration’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious freedom breaches. That move has generated debate in both nations. The federal government has consistently rejected claims of systemic religious persecution, stating that insecurity affects people of all backgrounds.
Earlier engagements included Ribadu’s November 20 visit to the Pentagon, where he held discussions with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on coordinated strategies to improve Nigeria’s security environment. On the same day, the US House Subcommittee on Africa convened a public hearing on the implications of Nigeria’s redesignation.
Last week, House Republicans also raised fresh concerns about violence in Nigeria during a joint briefing ordered by President Trump.
