United States lawmakers faced urgent calls this week to pressure the Nigerian government into abolishing Sharia criminal law in its northern states and dismantling the religious police units known as Hisbah commissions. This appeal came during a congressional briefing held on Tuesday, December 3, 2025, where experts testified that these systems are enabling a severe rise in anti-Christian persecution and violence.
Congressional Briefing Highlights Extremist Exploitation
The joint House briefing was convened in response to President Donald Trump's October directive, which once again designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to religious freedom violations. Dr. Ebenezer Obadare, a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, provided critical testimony. He stated that extremist factions, including Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and radicalized Fulani militants, are actively exploiting Sharia frameworks and Hisbah officials.
Obadare explained that these groups use the existing religious structures to impose ideology, enforce forced conversions, and operate with near-total impunity. He outlined a clear two-part strategy for U.S. policy: first, to collaborate with the Nigerian military to neutralize Boko Haram, and second, to pressure President Bola Tinubu's administration to make Sharia law unconstitutional in the twelve northern states that adopted it since 2000 and to disband all Hisbah groups.
Allegations of Government Complicity in Religious Cleansing
The bipartisan session, led by Appropriations Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart and involving the House Foreign Affairs Committee, heard stark accusations. Lawmakers and witnesses alleged that the Nigerian government is complicit in what was described as “religious cleansing” in the northern and Middle Belt regions. They pointed to specific incidents, such as the November 22 abduction of children and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, alongside ongoing blasphemy-law imprisonments and mass killings.
Rep. Chris Smith labeled Nigeria “ground zero” for global anti-Christian persecution. Rep. Brian Mast demanded the disarmament of militias and the prosecution of attackers. Experts from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and the Alliance Defending Freedom International called on Washington to use its leverage, including security aid, early-warning systems, and targeted sanctions, to force accountability from Abuja.
Nigeria's Response and Ongoing US Pressure
Dr. Obadare acknowledged that Nigeria has taken some steps under international pressure. He noted that President Tinubu ordered air strikes against Boko Haram, recruited 30,000 additional police officers, and declared a national security emergency. “As recent events have shown, the Nigerian authorities are not impervious to incentives,” he testified. However, he insisted that Washington must maintain and increase pressure to achieve fundamental change.
The briefing underscored the significance of Trump's redesignation of Nigeria as a CPC on October 31, a status that threatens U.S. aid and assistance if alleged persecution continues. Lawmakers signaled support for including specific language in the FY26 appropriations to address the crisis, and the Appropriations Committee is drafting a formal report to President Trump with concrete recommendations, which may include conditions on future U.S. assistance to Nigeria.
