The United States has begun a major push to sanction 12 northern governors, senior judges, and prominent traditional rulers in Nigeria over alleged religious persecution and what American lawmakers describe as a “Christian genocide” in the North.
The move is tied to growing concerns in Washington about religious freedom and the operation of Sharia and blasphemy laws across several northern states.
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According to U.S. legislators, the targeted officials allegedly enabled or ignored attacks against Christians and other minority groups.
The push comes under a proposed bill seeking punitive measures against public figures accused of encouraging religious intolerance.
If passed, sanctions would include visa bans, asset freezes, and restrictions under America’s global human rights enforcement framework.
The development follows strong remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently insisted that thousands of Christians have been killed in Nigeria.
Trump said American authorities must act immediately and directed congressional leaders to investigate the matter. He urged lawmakers to hold those responsible accountable “without delay.”
At the centre of the controversy is the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz. The bill brands Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and demands penalties for officials said to have “promoted, enacted, or maintained blasphemy laws.”
The legislation also seeks to monitor states where Sharia criminal codes remain in force.
The affected states include Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kebbi, Yobe, Kaduna, Niger, and Gombe. However, Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Adamawa, still operate under the conventional secular legal system, with Sharia limited only to personal status matters.
Critics of the bill say Washington is oversimplifying complex security issues.
Nigerian officials insist the country does not persecute Christians and argue that insecurity in the North stems largely from terrorism, banditry, and criminal networks — not religious policy.
Authorities maintain that Sharia applies only to Muslims and that constitutional courts can overturn Sharia judgments when necessary.
Tension around the issue intensified after the U.S. threatened to halt aid and even hinted at possible military intervention if alleged killings continue.
A senior U.S. official also declared that the American government is prepared to “kill the Islamic Terrorists” if Nigeria fails to protect Christian citizens.
The Presidency has confirmed that President Bola Tinubu will meet Donald Trump soon to address the allegations and strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation.
Federal government officials say the talks will provide clarity and ensure the U.S. receives accurate information about violence in Nigeria.
Diplomatic and security experts warn that sanctions could affect access to U.S. military equipment, intelligence sharing, and foreign aid.
They also argue that Nigeria must address long-standing concerns about mob killings, religious tensions, and weak prosecutions in blasphemy-related cases.
However, some people note that both Muslim and Christian communities in Nigeria have suffered brutal attacks from extremist groups over the years, especially in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions.
Recall that in May 2022, the killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto over alleged blasphemy sparked national outrage and global reactions, prompting calls for stronger legal protections and faster justice for victims of religious violence.