Speaking on the situation while addressing Congress, Huizenga criticised what he described as the Nigerian government’s tendency to downplay or excuse repeated killings in parts of the country.
A United States Congressman, Bill Huizenga, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing to take sufficient action in response to persistent attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria.
Speaking on the situation while addressing Congress, Huizenga criticised what he described as the Nigerian government’s tendency to downplay or excuse repeated killings in parts of the country.
In his remarks, the congressman questioned the pattern of violence, contrasting the recurring attacks on Christians in northern Nigeria with the absence of similar large-scale reprisals in Christian-dominated regions.
“Do we see Christians killing of Muslims in Christian dominated areas of Nigeria the way we are seeing radicalised Muslims killing Christians in Muslim areas of Nigeria?”
He said his concerns are informed not only by reports but by personal connections with Nigerians and Americans familiar with the country’s security realities.
“I went to school with kids from Nigeria, I have got neighbours who were missionaries there, who have families there, who have neighbours there, who knows this is going on.”
Huizenga also criticised what he described as attempts — both internationally and within the US Congress — to minimise the severity of the violence.
He argued that such denial had emboldened extremists while leaving vulnerable communities unprotected.
“Not just mass media, we have people in the Congress denying that this is happening. Or deemphasising it, it is is outrageous that Christians, moderate Muslims anyone being terrorised by these radical Muslims and we got the Tinubu government sitting back and not doing enough.”
The congressman further condemned the decision of Nigerian officials to visit the United States to, in his view, present a softened version of the crisis. He insisted that efforts to downplay the violence should be confronted.
“I don’t understand why a delegation will come to the United States to downplay this and give excuses, it should be rejected and called out for what it is.”
Huizenga’s comments add to growing international scrutiny of Nigeria’s security situation and intensify pressure on the Tinubu administration to take firmer, more decisive steps to address the ongoing attacks.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Congressman Riley M. Moore on Wednesday met with a delegation of senior Nigerian government officials led by Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser to the President of Nigeria, during the delegation’s visit to Washington, D.C.
The delegation present at the meeting included Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, NSA and Leader of the Delegation; Her Excellency Bianca Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector General of Police; Chief Lateef Olasunkami Fagbemi, SAN, Attorney General of the Federation; General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff; Lt. Gen. EAP Undiendeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence; Ms. Idayat Hassan, Special Adviser to ONSA; Ambassador Ibrahim Babani, Director of Foreign Relations, ONSA; Ambassador Nuru Biu, Acting CDA, Embassy of Nigeria; and Paul Alabi, Political and Economic Section, Embassy of Nigeria.
According to the statement, the meeting “allowed for a frank, honest, and productive discussion about the ongoing persecution of Christians and ongoing terrorist threats in Nigeria and opportunities for strengthened cooperation and coordination between the United States and Nigeria to end the bloodshed.”
During the engagement, the Nigerian officials “shared their government’s challenges and concerns regarding counterterrorism, security assistance, protection of vulnerable communities, and ongoing issues involving violence across Nigeria.”
The release noted that Congressman Moore “clearly stated that the United States stands ready to coordinate and cooperate with Nigeria,” adding that “as President Trump made abundantly clear, the United States will not tolerate continued violence against Christians or other forms of religious persecution.” It further stressed that “President Trump does not make idle threats.”
It added that Congressman Moore “will continue monitoring new developments and pushing the Nigerian government to accept the open hand of cooperation to stop the ongoing persecution and violence against Christians and combat the threat terrorist groups pose to the Nigerian population.”
Congressman Moore also issued a detailed statement following the meeting. “Today, I had a frank, honest, and productive discussion with senior members of the Nigerian government regarding the horrific violence and persecution Christians face and the ongoing threat terrorism poses across Nigeria,” he said.
“I made it crystal clear that the United States must see tangible steps to ensure that Christians are not subject to violence, persecution, displacement, and death simply for believing in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“We stand ready to work cooperatively with the Nigerians to help their nation combat the terrorism perpetrated by Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani militants against their population, specifically Christians in the Northeast and Middle Belt regions of Nigeria.
“The Nigerian government has the chance to strengthen and deepen its relationship with the United States. President Trump and Congress are united and serious in our resolve to end the violence against Christians and disrupt and destroy terrorist groups within Nigeria. I urge the Nigerians to work with us in cooperation and coordination on this critical issue.”
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