The United States Congress is set to hold another hearing on insecurity in Nigeria, with lawmakers expected to examine attacks on Christian communities, the Federal Government’s efforts to protect vulnerable populations and the security situation in the Middle Belt.
The hearing, scheduled for Thursday, will be convened by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and chaired by Congressman Chris Smith.
Titled “One Year Later: Assessing Nigeria’s Efforts to Protect Christians and Secure the Middle Belt”, the session will assess the government’s response to attacks, efforts to bring perpetrators to justice and measures to safeguard vulnerable communities.
According to a notice from Smith’s office, lawmakers will also examine the activities of extremist groups and possible steps the United States could take to address the violence.
Two panels of witnesses are expected to appear, including US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, and Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Riley Barnes.
Others are Nina Shea of the Hudson Institute, Ryan Brown of Open Doors US and Oge Onubogu, Director of the Africa Programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
Smith said the hearing would be his 14th congressional session on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The development comes amid renewed attention from the Trump administration and American lawmakers to attacks on Christian communities in the country.
In October 2025, US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged violations of religious freedom.
The designation has featured prominently in engagements between Nigerian and American officials, with the Federal Government maintaining that insecurity affects citizens across religious divides and should not be characterised solely as religious persecution.
The renewed congressional scrutiny also comes amid reports that nearly 64,000 Nigerians have fled to neighbouring Niger this year, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Meanwhile, the security situation has become a major political issue ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) promising a major security overhaul and opposition figures questioning the administration’s ability to protect lives and property.
The hearing will take place at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC, and will be streamed live online.
