Alleged Christian Genocide: U.S. Submits Report to Trump, Recommends Sanctions, Funding Cuts, Sharia Law Repeal, Others

The U.S. Congress has delivered a comprehensive report to the White House calling for decisive action on escalating attacks against Christian communities in Northern Nigeria. The report, presented in a White House meeting led by Congressman Riley M. Moore alongside members of the House Appropriations and Foreign Affairs Committees, includes recommendations for sanctions, funding restrictions, and legal reforms.

The submission follows President Donald Trump’s October 31, 2025, decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for violations of religious freedom—a designation applied to nations found to engage in or tolerate severe religious persecution.

The report represents months of investigation, including a bipartisan congressional trip to Nigeria, hearings with experts, consultations with religious leaders, meetings with internally displaced persons, and discussions with senior Nigerian officials.

Lawmakers described the findings as a “troubling pattern” of insecurity, extremist violence, and governance gaps disproportionately affecting Christian populations in northern Nigeria. Key recommendations outlined in the report include:

Bilateral Security Cooperation: Establish a U.S.–Nigeria security agreement to protect vulnerable communities and counter jihadist networks.

Funding Restrictions: Withhold certain U.S. aid pending measurable action by the Nigerian government to prevent attacks on Christians.

Sanctions and Visa Restrictions: Target individuals and groups implicated in religious persecution.

Technical Support: Assist Nigerian authorities in addressing violence attributed to armed Fulani militias.

Legal Reform: Call for repeal of Sharia and blasphemy laws in northern states.

International Coordination: Work with partners including France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom.

The proposal to repeal Sharia and blasphemy laws is likely to be highly debated, as several northern states operate Sharia-based legal systems alongside Nigeria’s secular constitution.

Following the White House meeting, Congressman Moore praised President Trump’s CPC redesignation and emphasized the urgency of addressing religious persecution. “Through direct observation, hearings, and consultations, we have documented the risks faced by Christian communities. The report outlines clear steps for accountability, counterterrorism, and U.S.–Nigeria cooperation,” Moore said.

Other lawmakers involved in drafting and delivering the report include House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Mario Diaz-Balart, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, and Congressman Chris Smith.

The move reflects growing bipartisan concern in Washington over religious freedom and security conditions in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and a strategic partner in West Africa.

Nigeria continues to contend with multiple security challenges, including extremist insurgencies, communal clashes, banditry, and conflicts between farmers and herders. Nigerian authorities maintain that violence stems from complex socio-economic and security factors rather than official religious bias.

While the CPC designation carries potential diplomatic consequences—including sanctions and limits on U.S. assistance—administrations have previously used waivers when broader strategic interests are involved. The call for Sharia and blasphemy law repeal, however, is likely to provoke significant domestic and international debate.