By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Reps Slam US Over ‘Baseless’ Religious Killings Bill, Say Nigeria Wrongly Branded
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has rejected a bill before the United States Congress that accuses the country of enabling religious killings, describing the move as a deliberate distortion of facts and a threat to bilateral relations.
The contentious bill, introduced on March 11, 2025, seeks to categorise Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” — a U.S. classification reserved for nations allegedly guilty of severe violations of religious freedom. If passed, it could trigger sanctions and diplomatic restrictions.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who sponsored a motion of urgent national importance on the matter, said the U.S. lawmakers behind the bill had been misled by inaccurate reports that fail to reflect Nigeria’s true security situation.
The motion, unanimously adopted by the House, directs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide a detailed counter-brief backed by evidence and to engage Washington through formal diplomatic channels.
Kalu warned that the U.S. narrative could fuel negative perceptions about Nigeria globally and hinder cooperation in key areas such as counter-terrorism and economic development.
“We must not allow a single narrative to define us as a country where faith determines who lives or dies,” he said.
This controversy adds to a long-running dispute between Nigeria and some Western institutions over how to interpret the country’s security challenges.
In 2020, the U.S. State Department listed Nigeria among nations of concern for religious freedom, but the designation was reversed the following year after Abuja mounted a diplomatic protest.
Over the years, rights groups like Amnesty International and Christian advocacy organisation Open Doors have repeatedly accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christian communities from extremist attacks.
Nigerian officials, however, insist that such reports ignore the reality that both Muslims and Christians have been victims of terrorism and banditry.
Just last month, the Federal Government condemned fresh allegations of “religious genocide,” calling them “false, baseless, and divisive.”
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said extremists target Nigerians indiscriminately, and portraying the crisis as faith-based “only strengthens the propaganda of those seeking to divide the nation.”
He further highlighted ongoing military operations that have recorded major gains against terror groups across the North-East and North-West regions.
Analysts say the exchange exposes a deepening communication gap between Nigeria and its foreign partners on issues of human rights and religious freedom.
Some diplomatic experts warn that failure to clarify Nigeria’s position early could influence how international aid, security partnerships, and public opinion shape the country’s image abroad.
For now, the House’s resolution signals a renewed push by Nigerian lawmakers to defend the nation’s reputation and assert that its battle with insecurity is not a war of religion, but one against terror and poverty.
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