US Congress Reopens Nigeria’s Christian Persecution Crisis, Schedules Fresh Hearing

The United States House of Representatives is set to hold a fresh hearing on alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, renewing international scrutiny of the country’s security challenges and the protection of religious minorities.
The proposed hearing comes amid growing concerns in the US over reports of attacks on Christian communities, killings and the deteriorating security situation in parts of Nigeria.
The hearing, titled “One Year Later: Assessing Nigeria’s Efforts to Protect Christians and Secure the Middle Belt”, has been scheduled for Thursday, 12 November 2026, at 11:00 am (Washington time), by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa. 
The session will be chaired by Republican Congressman Chris Smith, chairman of the subcommittee, who is expected to lead discussions on the scale of religious violence in Nigeria, the government’s response and measures needed to protect vulnerable communities.
According to a statement from Smith’s office, the hearing will examine attacks attributed to extremist groups, including Boko Haram and armed groups accused of targeting Christian communities. It will also consider violence against non-extremist Muslims and the Nigerian government’s efforts to bring those responsible to justice. 
Two senior US State Department officials, Frank Garcia, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, and Riley Barnes, Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, are expected to appear before the committee.
Other witnesses include Nina Shea, Director of the Centre for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute; Ryan Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Open Doors US; and Oge Onubogu, Director and Senior Fellow of the Africa Programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. 
The fresh hearing comes a year after US President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over allegations of religious freedom violations.
The designation has intensified diplomatic attention on Nigeria’s handling of insecurity and religious violence, with American lawmakers repeatedly calling for stronger measures to protect affected communities and ensure accountability.
In February 2026, US lawmakers also introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act, which seeks a detailed assessment of efforts by both Washington and Abuja to address religious persecution and insecurity in the country. 
The latest congressional hearing is expected to provide another platform for US officials, policy experts and advocacy groups to assess developments in Nigeria and examine what further action Washington could take to address the situation.
The hearing will take place at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington DC and will also be streamed online.