A diplomatic storm is brewing between Abuja and Washington as the United States Congress debates a bill that could see twelve northern Nigerian governors, traditional rulers, and judges sanctioned for alleged complicity in what American legislators describe as “Christian genocide” and systematic persecution under Nigeria’s Sharia and blasphemy laws.
The development follows former President Donald Trump’s recent re-designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and his directive to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to act swiftly.
Trump Orders Action on Killings
On Friday, Trump posted on Truth Social, expressing anger over the “mass murder of Christians” in Nigeria and instructing Congressman Riley Moore and Chairman Tom Cole to investigate the situation immediately.
The proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz, recommends sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act targeting officials accused of either enforcing or tolerating religiously motivated violence.
If passed, the Act would empower the US State Department to submit a list of Nigerian officials—including governors, judges, and monarchs—implicated in such violations within 90 days. Sanctions could include visa restrictions, asset freezes, and financial bans.
Focus on Sharia Law and Blasphemy Provisions
The bill singles out the operation of Sharia criminal codes in twelve northern states—Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kebbi, Yobe, Kaduna, Niger, and Gombe—calling them tools of persecution against Christians.
It recalls that between 1999 and 2000, several northern states expanded Sharia’s scope from civil to criminal law. Meanwhile, states such as Benue, Kogi, and Kwara retained secular legal systems, applying Sharia only to Muslim personal affairs.
Senator Cruz defended the bill, alleging that Nigeria’s leaders had “institutionalised sharia law and enabled jihadist violence,” citing the deaths of over 52,000 Christians and destruction of 20,000 churches since 2009.
Nigeria Defends Its Legal System
The Nigerian government rejected the US claims, insisting that the country remains a secular democracy with constitutional guarantees for religious freedom.
In a policy note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs titled “Nigeria’s Constitutional Commitment to Religious Freedom and Rule of Law,” the government stressed that Sharia law applies only to Muslims who voluntarily submit to it and that non-Muslims are exempt.
“There is no federal offence of blasphemy in Nigerian law,” the statement read. “National statutes only penalise acts likely to provoke violence, irrespective of religion.”
The note further asserted that Christians enjoy full rights to worship, build churches, and participate in governance across the country.
Human Rights Concerns Persist
Despite these assurances, rights groups and religious organisations argue that blasphemy laws are often misused to justify violence.
Cases such as the killings of Deborah Samuel in 2022 and Bridget Agbahime in 2016 have drawn widespread condemnation, with perpetrators rarely brought to justice.
Trump Threatens Sanctions and Military Response
Trump, in a fiery statement, warned that if Nigeria fails to stop Christian killings, Washington may impose sweeping sanctions or even consider military intervention.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and may go in ‘guns-a-blazing’ to eliminate the terrorists,” Trump wrote.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth echoed this stance on X, saying the US was “ready for action” if Nigeria fails to protect Christians.
Tinubu to Meet Trump
Presidential adviser Daniel Bwala confirmed that President Bola Tinubu will meet with Trump to discuss the allegations and strengthen counterterrorism cooperation.
Bwala said both leaders “share a commitment to ending terrorism,” adding that the talks will help clarify misconceptions about religiously motivated violence.
Diplomatic and Economic Fallout Looms
Former ambassadors have warned that the CPC designation could severely affect US-Nigeria relations, aid flows, and security cooperation.
Ambassador Mohammed Mabdul cautioned that the sanctions could halt access to US military equipment and reduce humanitarian aid.
Former envoy Ogbole Amedu-Ode urged the Nigerian government to “wake up to its constitutional duty of protecting lives,” warning of potential isolation in global institutions if corrective measures are not taken.
Calls for Calm and Diplomacy
Former Kano governor and NNPP leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, urged the US to focus on supporting Nigeria with technology to combat insecurity rather than issuing threats.
Similarly, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) said Trump’s warning should be interpreted as a call to target terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP—not Muslims or Nigeria as a nation.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), however, blamed weak leadership for the ongoing violence, urging Tinubu to use the moment to “take decisive action and correct the wrongs.”
Sultan, Others React
Former US Mayor Mike Arnold also accused the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, of failing to use his influence to stop jihadist attacks in the North—an allegation dismissed by the Sultanate Council as “baseless and provocative.”
Meanwhile, PDP chieftain Segun Showunmi warned that invoking both the CPC and Global Magnitsky Acts could cripple Nigeria’s global standing, saying, “The CPC targets your government, the Magnitsky Act targets you personally.”
