The Nigerian government is likely going to face sanctions from the United States in the coming years over the killing of Christians. The President of the United States Donald Trump is being presented with data of Christian persecution by Congress, which also demands that the country be held accountable.

Republican congressman Chris Smith called for Nigeria to be re-enlisted under the country of particular concern (CPC) for religious freedom.

The US, under Donald Trump’s first term in 2020, listed Nigeria under the CPC, however, it was removed in Joe Biden’s administration.

With the recent report by the Christian Charity Open Doors claiming that 89% of worldwide Christian persecution comes from the country, Nigeria could go back on the CPC list.

The designation under the CPC allows for direct sanctioning of a country.

Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA says, “The sad thing to me is that these attacks have become so common that they almost don’t make the news anymore.”

Fulani Herdmen Killings in Nigeria

Nigeria’s government under President Bola Tinubu has strongly denied the claims from the US Congress that the killings are targeted at Christians. The presidency called it misinformation, misleading and deeply concerning.

President Tinubu Nigeria insists the widespread insecurity and attacks have neither religious bias nor sentiments to them. It does not target a particular faith and they are predominant in Muslim settlements in the northern region of Nigeria. Also, no specific ethnic group in Nigeria is the target and is almost evenly distributed between Muslim and Christian communities as well as different tribes.

If the US State Department accepts the intelligence that Christains are the target, Abuja would have to justify the killings. The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa is urging the president for this sanction to happen having mapped out possible measures.