House of Representatives rejects US genocide claim against Christians in Nigeria
The Nigerian House of Representatives has strongly condemned a political measure in the United States Senate that alleges Nigeria is committing genocide against Christians. The motion was adopted unanimously during plenary on October 8, 2025, after lawmakers expressed serious concern about what they called misleading narratives.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who sponsored the motion, said the proposed U.S. bill titled Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (U.S. Senate Bill S.2747) seeks to designate Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” and impose sanctions on Nigerian officials under the Global Magnitsky Act. He argued that the bill mischaracterises Nigeria’s security landscape.
According to the House, constitutional guarantees in Nigeria protect freedom of religion and conscience, and there is no state religion. The lawmakers emphasized that insecurity in Nigeria is rooted in issues like insurgency, banditry, communal violence, separatist conflicts and not religious persecution of Christians alone.
The House expressed concern that the U.S. bill, if passed, could harm Nigeria’s sovereignty, damage its international image, and worsen diplomatic relations. They warned that narratives based on incomplete or decontextualised information risk misinforming foreign partners and the international community.
Lawmakers directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., to produce factual, empirical evidence countering the U.S. narrative. They also called for a joint fact-finding dialogue, involving Nigerian and U.S. stakeholders, civil society, faith leaders, and experts.
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, echoed the House’s position. The Minister rejected the claims made by Senator Ted Cruz and others that tens of thousands of Christians had been killed in targeted ways or that a state-led genocide was underway. He described such assertions as false, misleading, and not supported by verified evidence.
Nigeria’s government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting all citizens regardless of faith, and stated that its security operations, laws, and policies do not support or engage in systematic persecution based on religion. The government acknowledged the challenges posed by terrorism and violence, which affect people of different religious backgrounds.
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