The Nigerian Senate has constituted a 12-member ad hoc committee to respond to rising international concerns over alleged genocide against Christians in parts of the country.
This decision followed a closed-door session held on Tuesday in Abuja, where lawmakers discussed recent statements by the United States Government suggesting that Christians in Nigeria may be victims of state-backed persecution or targeted violence. The claims have sparked diplomatic unease and could affect Nigeria’s image on the global stage.
The Senate’s action is a direct response to these allegations, which have been gaining traction in international circles, particularly within the US Congress and human rights communities. There are fears that such claims, if left unchallenged, could damage Nigeria’s interfaith harmony, economy, and foreign relations.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the formation of the committee, which includes Senators Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East), Niyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), Titus Zam (Benue North East), Tony Nwoye (Anambra North), Tahir Monguno (Borno North), and Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South).
The committee’s mandate is to prepare a well-researched and fact-based position paper that reflects Nigeria’s legislative stance on the matter. This document will be presented to both the Executive and the Senate and will serve as Nigeria’s official response in ongoing international discussions.
Akpabio highlighted that the position paper must rely on verifiable data, stating that Nigeria must speak from a place of truth and clarity. “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,” he said.
This move comes after Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) raised a motion last week warning that false narratives about Nigeria’s security situation were gaining international acceptance. Ndume expressed concern that these claims, though sometimes well-intentioned, present a one-sided view of the country’s complex challenges.
Following his motion, many senators echoed the concern that Nigeria was being unfairly portrayed as a nation where religious persecution, especially against Christians, is supported or tolerated by the state. Lawmakers agreed that these claims overlook the broader realities of insecurity, which affect all Nigerians regardless of religion.
As a result, the Senate resolved to begin diplomatic engagement with the United States Congress to counter what it described as “misleading narratives.” Akpabio proposed that a small, well-informed delegation be sent to Washington D.C. to directly engage with US lawmakers and policy influencers.
He also recommended that the meetings be held behind closed doors to allow for frank and respectful discussions. “We must be able to explain the facts on the ground and show that Nigeria is fighting terrorism and banditry in all its forms, without religious bias,” Akpabio said.
Nigeria has been battling insurgency and violence for over a decade, particularly in the North-East, where extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have killed thousands of people — both Muslims and Christians. Security experts and analysts have often described the crisis as a mix of terrorism, ethnic tensions, and governance failures, rather than purely religious persecution.
