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A group of United States lawmakers has issued a stern warning to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, cautioning that Nigeria risks straining its bilateral relationship with Washington over what they described as persistent “Christian killings” in parts of the country.
The statement, released by members of the U.S. House of Representatives including Robert Aderholt, Josh Brecheen, Mary Miller, and Chris Smith, followed reports of deadly attacks on Christians during Palm Sunday in Jos.
In the statement, the lawmakers said: “This Palm Sunday, reports from Nigeria indicate that more than thirty Christians were murdered in the city of Jos, the largest city in Plateau State. We deeply condemn these atrocities, as no one should face violence and death for their faith.”
They further described the situation as a growing pattern of targeted violence, stating, “The continued brutal persecution of Christians in Nigeria is a moral outrage, and another example of targeted violence against Christians on holy days in Nigeria which has become a tragic, but predictable pattern in recent years.”
The lawmakers stressed that the United States Congress would continue to take an active stance on the issue, noting: “As Members of Congress, we will continue to condemn these attacks, hold perpetrators of murder and violence accountable, and support the Administration in ensuring that U.S. foreign policy protects people of faith at an international scale.”
Referencing recent legislative actions, the group added, “Earlier this year Congress passed bipartisan legislation conditioning U.S. security assistance to Nigeria on Abuja stepping up and defending our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
The warning to the Nigerian government became more explicit as the statement highlighted potential diplomatic consequences if urgent steps are not taken to address the violence.
“As we enter the end of Holy Week and approach Easter Sunday, the Nigerian government must drastically ramp up security measures across known hotspots in the Middle Belt to protect the right of Christians to worship freely,” the lawmakers said.
“Failure to do so will result in more bloodshed and could force the U.S. to reevaluate our bilateral relationship.”
The statement was signed by House VAT Members including Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11), Rep. Addison McDowell (NC-06), Rep. Barry Moore (AL-01), Rep. Daniel Webster (FL-11), Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06), Rep. Jim Baird (IN-04), Rep. John Carter (TX-31), Rep. John Moolenaar (MI-02), Rep. Keith Self (TX-03) and Rep. Mark Messmer (IN-08).
Others Rep. Michael Guest (MS-03), Rep. Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Rep. Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Rep. Rich McCormick (GA-07), Rep. Vince Fong (CA-20) and Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC-05).
The development adds to mounting international scrutiny over security challenges in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where recurring violence has drawn concern from both domestic and global stakeholders.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that a U.S. lawmaker, Mark Harris, called on the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to impose sanctions on the Nigerian government over what he described as escalating violence against Christians.
In a letter dated Thursday, April 2, 2026, Harris expressed concern over “the escalating persecution of Christians in both Nigeria and Syria,” stating that the situation “demands immediate attention from the United States.”
“The escalating persecution of Christians in both Nigeria and Syria demands immediate attention from the United States. Attacks on the Church are not merely political disturbances or unfortunate byproducts of instability,” the lawmaker wrote.
“They are assaults on human dignity, religious liberty, and the most basic God-given rights that every country has a duty to protect.”
Harris urged the U.S. State Department to ensure that both Nigeria and Syria take “decisive action to protect innocent Christians,” adding that Christian communities in the affected regions “continue to be terrorized, displaced, and killed for their faith.”
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