A United States lawmaker, Bill Huizenga, has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently address allegations of attacks on Christians in Nigeria, warning that ignoring the issue could lead to serious consequences for the country.
Speaking in an interview with Arise News in Washington, D.C., Huizenga urged the Nigerian government to move quickly in investigating and resolving reports of religious persecution.
He cautioned that Nigeria could repeat tragic experiences similar to Rwanda and South Sudan if decisive action is not taken. The Congressman also backed former US President Donald Trump’s push to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
“We were too late on Rwanda, we were too late on South Sudan. Let’s not be too late again on this one,” he warned.
Huizenga said he has spoken directly with religious leaders and villagers who described being attacked and feeling specifically targeted because of their faith.
Responding to Trump’s comment that Christianity in Nigeria faces an existential threat, Huizenga clarified that he does not expect a military intervention. Instead, he believes economic pressure would be more effective.
“I don’t envision a surprise attack or military response. Economic pressure and sanctions on individuals and organisations would be more effective,” he said.
He added that sanctions could block the flow of money and limit the movements of those allegedly fueling the violence. “We don’t know who is financing these operations, but targeted economic measures will have a positive impact.”
Huizenga also criticised the Nigerian government for downplaying the crisis.
“They need to show what they are doing to protect not just Christians but all citizens. Their response has largely been, ‘there’s really not a problem.’ Well, I think there is,” he said.
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According to him, the persistence of insecurity is hurting Nigeria’s economy by scaring away investors.
“When you cannot guarantee the safety of workers or businesses, you have a problem. It is in Nigeria’s best interest to address the root causes of this violence,” he added.
Huizenga said his frustrations with the Nigerian authorities led him to introduce new resolutions in the US Congress, stressing that the international community must hold Nigeria accountable to prevent further atrocities.
