A United States congressman has delivered a stark assessment of Nigeria’s security crisis, asserting that the Federal Government lacks the fundamental capacity to protect its citizens from relentless insurgent attacks.
Representative Johnny Olszewski, speaking during a public hearing of the US House Subcommittee on Africa, framed the escalating violence not as a case of state-sponsored religious persecution, but as a critical failure in governance and institutional capability that has left millions vulnerable.
“The Nigerian government lacks the means to protect communities against groups that kill indiscriminately,” Olszewski stated unequivocally.
He was quick to clarify that this perceived incapacity does not absolve the authorities in Abuja of their primary responsibility. “To be clear, this does not abdicate the Nigerian government from responsibility,” he told the hearing.
The lawmaker painted a grim picture of a nation under siege, where both major faiths bear the brunt of extremist violence. “Muslims and Christians alike have lived under the constant threat of extreme groups like Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa for far too long. And so the real story here for me is not about Nigeria’s intent at the institutional level to persecute people based on faith.”
In a personal disclosure, Olszewski, who openly identified as a Christian, said, “Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour. I have no problem sharing that. I am also troubled by the state of religious freedom in Nigeria and around the world.”
He affirmed the severity of violence against Christians, noting, “Christians are being massacred and communities are living in constant fear.” However, he stressed that the suffering is widespread and interfaith. “But this suffering is not just confined to one religious group.”
Citing analyses from US officials, the congressman emphasised that terrorism in Nigeria is blind to ethnicity or creed, affecting people irrespective of “colour, religion or tribe.”
While identifying the core issue as a “capacity problem,” Olszewski issued a sharp warning on accountability. “A government’s duty is to protect its people. And when there’s a failure to do so, whether that’s neglect or corruption or governance, leaders must be held accountable. But capacity within Nigerian institutions to maintain peace is a real question.”
The US lawmaker also turned a critical lens on his own country’s foreign policy, questioning its effectiveness and calling for a strategic shift from punitive measures to constructive partnership.
“And we should be asking what the US is doing to help Nigeria build that capacity. Are we offering real partnerships or just threatening airstrikes and sanctions? Or instead, are we thinking about technical support, training and investment in the institutions that prevent violence in the first place?” he queried.
The hearing comes amid intensified global scrutiny of Nigeria’s security situation, particularly following the recent designation of the country as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the administration of US President Donald Trump, a move that has further strained diplomatic relations.
