The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday constituted a 12-member ad-hoc committee to advise the legislature on how to address growing international concerns regarding allegations of state-supported persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The decision followed a closed-door session during which lawmakers deliberated on recent claims by the United States Government suggesting possible acts of genocide targeting Christians in certain regions of the country.
The Senate’s action comes in the wake of discussions led by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and other members of the U.S. Congress for Nigeria to be designated a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over alleged religious persecution.
The newly constituted committee comprises Senators Victor Umeh, Yemi Adaramodu, Aniekan Bassey, Niyi Adegbonmire, Abdul Ningi, Titus Zam, Tony Nwoye, Tahir Munguno, and Asuquo Ekpenyong, among others.
The panel has been mandated to produce a comprehensive position paper, to be presented to both the Executive and the Senate, that will inform Nigeria’s legislative stance on the issue and guide its participation in ongoing international engagements.
Announcing the committee, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed the importance of grounding the document in verifiable data.
‘The position paper must be backed with verifiable facts and statistics’, he stated.
Earlier in plenary, the Senate resolved to engage directly with the U.S. Congress to address and counter what it described as inaccurate portrayals of Nigeria’s security situation as an anti-Christian genocide.
This resolution followed a motion raised by Senator Ali Ndume, which prompted broader deliberation on how the international community perceives Nigeria’s internal security dynamics.
During the debate, several lawmakers expressed concern that the narrative of religious genocide—though often rooted in genuine concern—misrepresents the complexity of the conflict, potentially harming Nigeria’s international reputation and economic interests.
Senate President Akpabio proposed the establishment of an ad-hoc committee to visit the United States and engage directly with American lawmakers.
He suggested that this be carried out through private discussions and a small, focused delegation.
‘There are misconceptions that need to be corrected. We are dealing with a complex terrorist threat, and it’s important that our counterparts in the US understand that the violence affects both Christians and Muslims’, Akpabio said.
Supporting this view, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim emphasised the need for Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts to be guided by informed, context-specific strategies. He noted that the upcoming national security summit was aimed at crafting locally relevant solutions rather than adopting externally imposed narratives.
The motion tabled by Senator Ndume included several examples underscoring the non-sectarian nature of the violence. It cited the July 2023 attacks on predominantly Christian farming communities in Plateau State, which left over 20 people dead.
In contrast, it noted that bandit attacks in Katsina and Zamfara States in August 2023, targeting mainly Muslim villages, also resulted in dozens of deaths. Similarly, in Borno and Kaduna States, terrorist groups have indiscriminately attacked both churches and mosques, with victims drawn from both faiths.
The Senate leader moved a motion to step down further discussion, allowing for deeper legislative consideration in an executive session and finalisation of the delegation to the U.S.
The motion was seconded by Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central.
