The United States Congress is taking decisive action in response to the alarming escalation of mass kidnappings and violent attacks across Nigeria. A high-level joint congressional briefing is scheduled for Tuesday, convened by the House Appropriations Committee, to scrutinise the worsening security situation, with a particular focus on assaults against Christian communities.
Congressional Spotlight on Targeted Violence
The briefing will be led by House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chairman, Mario Díaz-Balart. It will include participation from members of the influential Foreign Affairs and Financial Services Committees. Experts from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom are also expected to provide testimony.
According to US Congressman Riley Moore, the session aims “to spotlight the escalating violence and targeted persecution of Christians in Nigeria.” Committee officials stated that the roundtable will gather crucial information to compile a comprehensive report. This report is being prepared “directed by President Trump on the massacre of Nigerian Christians and the steps Congress can take to support the White House’s efforts to protect vulnerable faith communities worldwide.”
A Nation Gripped by Kidnapping Epidemic
This urgent congressional move comes as Nigeria reels from a devastating wave of mass abductions in recent weeks. In a series of brazen attacks, gunmen have seized hundreds of citizens across multiple states. Notable incidents include:
- The abduction of more than 300 students and teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State.
- The kidnapping of nine onion farmers in Borno State.
- The seizure of a bride and 10 bridesmaids in Sokoto State.
Disturbing security reports reveal the scale of the crisis. Between July 2024 and June 2025, at least 4,722 people were kidnapped in 997 separate incidents. These kidnappings resulted in at least 762 deaths, with ransom payments totalling an estimated N2.57 billion.
Government Response and International Cooperation
In reaction to the crisis, President Bola Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency. His administration has ordered the redeployment of police personnel from VIP protection duties to core security functions and authorised the recruitment of an additional 50,000 police officers.
Simultaneously, US-Nigeria security cooperation is intensifying. President Tinubu recently approved Nigeria’s participation in the newly established US–Nigeria Joint Working Group. This group, formed to implement security agreements from high-level talks in Washington led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, comprises senior ministers and security officials. Its mandate is to enhance counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, border security, and coordination on humanitarian protection.
Analysts point out that the nature of the threat is evolving. Criminal gangs, often labelled as “bandits,” now operate as sophisticated, profit-seeking organisations. Some have even formed alliances with jihadist groups in the northeast, significantly complicating the government’s response efforts.
The religious dimension of the violence remains a point of contention. While US officials have cited the targeting of Christians and threatened potential military action if protective measures are not improved, Nigerian authorities and independent analysts dispute that the violence is primarily religiously motivated. They emphasise that the insecurity affects diverse communities across the nation's regions.
The upcoming US congressional briefing is poised to provide lawmakers with essential, on-the-ground information about the conditions facing religious minorities in Nigeria. This information is expected to guide potential legislative and diplomatic responses from the United States to the ongoing crisis.
