U.S. Congress Targets 12 Northern Governors, Traditional Rulers, and Judges Over ‘Christian Genocide’

Twelve northern governors, prominent traditional rulers, and senior judges are at the centre of a looming diplomatic storm as the United States Congress considers a bill that could impose sweeping sanctions on them for alleged complicity in what American lawmakers describe as a “Christian genocide” and systemic persecution under Nigeria’s sharia and blasphemy laws.

The controversy erupted following U.S. President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over “mass killings of Christians” and his directive to the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to “act without delay.”

In a fiery post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump wrote:

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ but that is the least of it.”

He added that he had instructed Congressman Riley Moore, Chairman Tom Cole, and the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the killings and “report back to him immediately.”

“When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered like what is happening in Nigeria, 3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide, something must be done! The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities happen. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world!” Trump declared.

Shortly afterwards, the president issued a stark warning that has rattled diplomatic circles:

“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists committing these horrible atrocities.”

According to congressional sources, the draft sanctions bill currently before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee proposes visa bans, asset freezes, and the suspension of security cooperation for twelve northern state governors, as well as selected traditional rulers and judicial figures, accused of enabling or ignoring religious persecution under blasphemy and sharia statutes.

Congressman Moore, who co-sponsored the motion, said in his statement:

“Nigeria has become the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian. The federal and state authorities have turned a blind eye or worse, participated in the persecution. It is time the United States holds them accountable.”

The Nigerian government swiftly rejected both the allegations and the CPC designation.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement released through his spokesperson, insisted that:

“Religious freedom and tolerance have always been a core tenet of our collective identity. Nigeria protects citizens of all faiths and will never encourage persecution.”

The presidency also warned that Trump’s remarks risk inflaming tensions in a country already grappling with insecurity and religiously motivated violence.

Meanwhile, Senator Ali Ndume urged the Tinubu administration to open immediate diplomatic dialogue with Washington, cautioning that ignoring the development “could lead to economic sanctions, arms restrictions, and severe reputational damage.”

Source: Punch