The United States Congress has taken a significant step towards holding Nigeria accountable for the persecution of Christians in the country, authorizing sanctions against the West African nation. This move comes after a congressional hearing on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, where Chris Smith, the chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, made the legislative decision public.

During the hearing, Smith cited a report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, which revealed that more than 55,000 murders and 21,000 kidnappings have been connected to religious violence between 2019 and 2023. He accused the Nigerian government of neglecting Christians and called for an end to what he described as "religious cleansing." Smith also mentioned that over 18,000 churches have been destroyed in Northern Nigeria alone since 2009.

Smith's criticism of the Nigerian government's inaction is not new. He has been vocal about the issue since the Obama administration, when he tried to get the government to designate Boko Haram as a terrorist organization. Despite holding multiple hearings, the administration refused to take action. It wasn't until later, when the State Department finally designated Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, that progress was made.

The congressman expressed confidence in President Donald Trump, calling for the current administration in Nigeria to take the issue more seriously. He reintroduced a resolution, hoping for a robust discussion and markup. Smith's efforts are not limited to the current administration; he has been working on this issue for over a decade, having chaired multiple hearings on religious persecution in Nigeria.

In 2012, Smith held a hearing where Archbishop Ignatius A. Kaigama expressed concern over the violence against Christians, which had claimed at least 58 lives that weekend and hundreds more in recent weeks. A year later, Smith visited Archbishop Kaigama in Jos, Nigeria, where he witnessed the devastation firsthand. Despite the survivors' resilience and faith, they were looking to their government for help, which was not forthcoming.

The implications of these sanctions are significant, and it remains to be seen how Nigeria will respond. With the US Congress taking a firm stance on the issue, it is likely that other countries will follow suit. As the situation in Nigeria continues to deteriorate, the international community must come together to pressure the Nigerian government to take action against religious persecution.

In a broader context, this move highlights the ongoing struggle for religious freedom around the world. As countries like Nigeria continue to grapple with sectarian violence, it is essential that governments and international organizations work together to protect the rights of all individuals, regardless of their faith.