A U.S. congressman John James has raised urgent questions over American foreign aid to Nigeria, warning that U.S. taxpayer dollars may be indirectly supporting a government that “refuses to protect its own people” from escalating religious violence.
Speaking at a U.S. Congress public hearing on Nigeria, the lawmaker, a former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Africa, painted a harrowing picture of Nigeria as one of the deadliest places on earth for Christians.
Citing firsthand observations, the official revealed that nearly 17,000 Christians have been killed since 2019, with hundreds more murdered in the first seven months of this year alone.
He explained that the June 13 Yellow Water Massacre (Yelwata Massare in Benue State), where more than 280 Christians were slaughtered in a single day, was highlighted as a stark example of the ongoing crisis.
He said,
“The ancient plea, ‘Is there no help for the widow’s son?’ still echoes today. Since 2019, nearly 17,000 Christians have been killed.
In the first seven months of this year alone, hundreds more have been murdered.
On June 13, during the Yellow Water Massacre, more than 280 Christians were slaughtered in a single day.
“These are not isolated tragedies but a sustained pattern of religiously motivated violence, often ignored, or even enabled, by the Nigerian government.”
“Extremist groups like Boko Haram, Fulani militants, and ISIS West Africa carry out attacks with little or no meaningful intervention from authorities.
The lack of response has created an atmosphere of impunity where Christians continue to live in constant threat and fear,” the lawmaker said.
The United States has previously recognized this crisis.
He noted that President Donald Trump designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern during his first term and reaffirmed the designation in his second term after President Joe Biden inexplicably removed it
The lawmaker cited Psalms 96:14, asking,
“Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?” to underscore the moral urgency of the situation.
For fiscal year 2025, the United States has requested nearly $8 billion for Sub-Saharan Africa.
The lawmaker, therefore, asked,
“Why should our tax dollars support governments that refuse to protect their own people? Is our aid aiding a genocide?
“Nigeria is a nation of tremendous potential, but that potential is being suffocated by violent persecution of its Christian population.
No country can build a stable future where churches are burned, believers are killed, and communities live in fear.
The United States must remain engaged, and Nigeria must change course now.”
The lawmaker’s remarks add to mounting international pressure on Nigeria to take concrete action to protect vulnerable communities and uphold religious freedom.
