▶ 0:02:20Subcommittee will come to order and um the purpose of this hearing is to discuss the deteriorating state of religious freedom in Nigeria and the urgent need to redesate Nigeria as a country of particular concern uh pursuant to the international religious freedom act. I would like recognize myself for an opening comment and we'll yield to my friend and colleague Miss Jacobs for any opening comment she might have and members of of the subcommittee.
▶ 0:02:47According to the Catholic News Agency and EWTN news, quote, Archbishop Ignatius Kyama is concerned over the seemingly endless violence against Christians that claimed at least 58 lives this past weekend and hundreds of others in recent weeks. It is our prayer, he said, that something definitive will be done to stop the situation that is inhuman.
▶ 0:03:09Shockingly, that was more than a dozen years ago and part of my opening remarks at a hearing that I held on July 10th, 2012, one of several hearings a in all on religious persecution in Nigeria. And since then, things have only gotten worse. One year later in 2013, I visited Archbishop Kgama in Jo, Nigeria.
▶ 0:03:31We visited churches, five of them that had been recently firebombed by Boka Haram, and spent hours listening to survivors tell their stories. Despite their numbing loss and pain, I was absolutely amazed at the survivors about their faith, very deep faith, their courage, and resilience. Uh they were not going to quit, but they were looking to the government for help, and it was not coming. I also met with an evangelical believer named Habili Habila Adamu.
▶ 0:03:59Dragged from his home by Boka Haram terrorist, he was ordered to renounce his faith. With an AK-47 pressed to his face, he was asked, "Are you ready to die as a Christian?" With extraordinary courage, Habila answered, "Yes, I am ready to die as a Christian." He was asked a second time and he repeated his answer. His wife was pleading, "Please don't kill my husband." And yet he said, "Yes, I am ready to die as a Christian." This time the terrorist pulled the trigger. A bullet ripped through Habila's face.
▶ 0:04:27He crumpled to the ground, bleeding profusely, left for dead. By some miracle, he survived. I met him in an IDB camp in Jo. I asked him to come to Washington to tell his story. He did. And at the congressional hearing, he said this to our subcommittee, this subcommittee. I am alive because God wants you to have this message. Knowing Christ is so much deeper than merely knowing Boka Haram's story of hate and intolerance. He closed his testimony with this.
▶ 0:04:54Do everything you can to end this ruthless religious persecution, but know Christ first to the to the end. Everything he did was was to witness to radiate his love for God. Uh but he was also calling on us to get involved and do something. Since then, however, the want and violence against Christians in Nigeria has grown significantly worse.
▶ 0:05:15A couple of days ago, the Pillar Catholic reported, I quote, "While Christians are receiving ashes last Wednesday to begin Lent, news broke out in Nigeria that a priest had been brutally murdered by kidnappers who had stormed his rectory the night before and kidnapped him with deep sorrow and righteous indignation.
▶ 0:05:32I condemn in the strongest terms the relentless and tragic wave of kidnappings targeting priests, pastoral agents, and the faithful." Bishop Kundi said in a March 7th just a couple days ago press conference which expressed outrage over the kidnaps and the brutal murder of his priests. According to the sources in the dascese, father Sylvester was bound by his kidnappers. He was shot in the head and I saw the picture. It is heartbreaking to look at. Shot at close range with an assault rifle.
▶ 0:06:02uh this and and according to the officials of his dascese, the systematic slaughter and abuse of Nigerian believers must stop. Delay is denial and a death sentence to so many. One of our distinguished witnesses today, Bishop Wilfried Anag Anagi of the Dascese of Mccertie, Nigeria, traveled a long distance to be with us today and will testify and this is from his testimony. Militant fani herdsmen are terrorists.
▶ 0:06:32They steal and vandalize. They kill and boast about it. They kidnap and rape. And they enjoy total impunity for this from the elected officials. None of them, I repeat his quote, none of them have been arrested and brought to justice. In December of 2020, President Trump designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern, only to be reversed without justification by Secretary Blinken in November of 2021. And I know I asked them at hearings.
▶ 0:07:01I asked him privately, but also asked them at open hearings, why never got a good answer. Religious leaders in Nigeria were outraged by the secretary's decision. One Nigerian bishop challenged the secretary and said, "Christian persecution is more intense than ever." Now was Bishop Mazma Mamza and Genocide Watch has called the Niger called Nigeria a killing field of defenseless Christians quote unquote.
▶ 0:07:28Yet the government of Nigeria has failed to make progress against religiously motivated persecution of Christians despite religious freedom being enshrined as an essential human right in their Likewise, Nigerian legal framework supports plurism at both federal and state levels, but glaring contradictions exist, especially with laws that criminalize blasphemy, some even carrying the death penalty.
▶ 0:07:52The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, USAF, was quote appalled that the State Department did not reddesate Nigeria as a country of particular concern. USERF had recommended and we have the former chairman here Tony Perkins had recommended this designation four years in a row from 2021 to 2024 and said quote there is no justification as to why the State Department continues to fail to redesate Nigeria as a CPC and again CPC as you know
▶ 0:08:22carries significant sanctions a whole broad array of sanctions uh that the president and the secretary of state uh are are empowered to level on a country uh that commits persecution. When the former Secretary of State Blinken held a joint press conference with the Nigerian foreign minister on January 23rd, 2024 following the Christmas Eve massacre which targeted killings by radical fani terrorists and took the lives of hundreds of Christians.
▶ 0:08:52He did offer his condolences and I watched it. I was glad to see that. But we need to take it beyond just saying I feel sorry for you. And these Christian killings recurred the following year, just three years, three months ago. Make no mistake, these ongoing attacks are based on religion and diverting attention from it. Tonight, let me just say parathetically, I tried for three years to get the Clinton administration to designate Boo Ram as an FTO, the Obama administration, as a foreign terrorist organization.
▶ 0:09:20I held hearing after hearing and they wouldn't do it. on the day I was marking up my legislation to do this just that state department said oh we're going to designate them an FTO and after all the crimes they were committing uh later it was the Chebac girls it was all the other atrocities being committed by Boker Haram and they wouldn't even give them the FTO status uh so we could start investigating where they get their money their weapons and the like make no mistake all of these attacks are based on religion like I said and diverting attention from it denies that we have
▶ 0:09:50seen with our own eyes this is religious cleansing. It needs to stop and the perpetrators need to be brought to justice. Last year, the House uh foreign affairs did adopt my resolution HRES 82 calling on the B administration to redesate Nigeria as a country of particular concern. It passed exactly one year ago, almost a year ago uh in the committee, but it never came to the floor.
▶ 0:10:12While I strongly believe that President Trump will again designate Nigeria as a CPC and do much more to assist the persecuted church, including the outreach to the Nigerian president uh Tonuba. Last night I did reintroduce the resolution and I hope we will have a robust debate and and it will get marked up. Help can't come fast enough. The killing fields are every day, every single day. And we need to do more and do everything within our power uh to try to mitigate it. Let's not forget these horrifying facts.
▶ 0:10:43Northern Nigeria, and this is just Northern Nigeria alone, has seen the destruction over 18,000 churches since 2009. 18,000 churches. I saw five of them totally burnt out and and many people killed with car bombs and the like.
▶ 0:10:59Um, an August 2024 report from the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa found that 55,910 people were killed and 21,000 people were abducted in the context of terror groups in Nigeria within just 4 years from October 2019 to September 2023. I would point out that approximately 34,000 are moderate Muslims that have been murdered in Islamic attacks and we speak out for them as well.
▶ 0:11:26Uh I have met with imams in uh in Nigeria and if they speak they're visited that following week uh for by one of these radical Islamist groups. Uh and it's not pretty. They'll they'll kill them or do other kinds of mischief. About 5 million Christians have been displaced and forced into internally displaced person camps, IDP camps within Nigeria.
▶ 0:11:49uh the 2023 watch list released by J in January by open doors this past January uh found that 89% of Christians uh 89% of the Christians who are martyed in the world are in one country Nigeria. The target of violence starkly highlights the precarious state of religious freedom in Nigeria. Uh again we're we're asking the president uh Tanubu he's got to take action and we're going to you know I'm hoping to lead a delegation to Nigeria.
▶ 0:12:17We've, you know, we've got to raise these issues, but it starts at the top. You know, I've been to Abuja many times. The president has real power. He can do it, and we're calling on him to do that. Let me also say that that u and I will put the rest of my statement into the record, but u this hearing we're hoping will be a catalyst for action by our own government and also by Congress and of course of all the executive branch.
▶ 0:12:42Um, you know, the new president has a lot to do and I think he'll he'll do this and then if necessary impose sanctions where that has happened, there is change. Where it doesn't happen, the status quo, the killing fields continue. I'd like to yield to Miss Jacobs for any opening comments you might have. Well, thank you uh, Chairman Smith and to all the witnesses for testifying today on conflict and religious persecution in Nigeria.
▶ 0:13:08I think all of us here know that African continent is at a pivotal moment. The continent is the youngest in the world and in Nigeria alone 70% of the population is under 35 and 40% is under 15. So it represents the future generations who will continue to lead and solve the world's challenges.
▶ 0:13:28Nigeria has a unique position as a bellweather as Africa's largest economy, most populous nation and a significant actor in the region and on the world Meanwhile, Nigeria is facing its own challenges like rising insecurity, shrinking freedom of expression, and a struggling economy which are preventing the country from experiencing long-term stability and prosperity. That's why I'm glad this subcommittee is convening a hearing to discuss some of the challenges facing Nigeria.
▶ 0:13:57And I hope we can use this as an opportunity to discuss how the United States can use its full range of tools to help address conflict and violence across the country. Nigeria is facing multiple different security challenges in various parts of the country including violent extremist groups, criminal banditry, firmer farmer herder conflict and religiously motivated violence. Several factors are driving these conflicts.
▶ 0:14:22Yes, religion is a factor but other dynamics like climate change, population pressures and governance challenges are important drivers that need to be addressed as For example, in northeast where Boo Haram and now ISIS West Africa are active, decades of marginalization and overseized responses have led to human rights abuses and instigated and exacerbated the conflict.
▶ 0:14:47I actually worked on Nigeria when I was at the State Department and I have seen that for years governance challenges like corruption, marginalization and impunity have driven violence and conflict. A history of marginalization and limited access to basic needs in central and northern Nigeria and among different ethnic groups have created grievances that fuel further violence. So we must address these fundamental challenges to ensure stabilization and security and prevent violence in the long term.
▶ 0:15:18I am also concerned by the state of freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria. However, we need to be careful in our characterization of this complex challenge. Roughly half of the population of Nigeria is Muslim while the other half is Christian and violations of this freedom impact both groups. Overs simplistic narratives about the violence per about the violence perpetuate harmful stereotypes and motivate tensions and violence based on religious identity.
▶ 0:15:49On the question of a potential country of particular concern designated for Nigeria, the Trump administration should make a determination based on the criteria provided in the International Religious Freedom Act. But we cannot ignore the other tools in our toolbox, especially foreign assistance, which has been effective at supporting Nigerians with addressing the key drivers of conflict and religious freedom For years, the United States has supported Nigerian institutions, civil society, faith-based leaders, and researchers
▶ 0:16:19to address the conflict, violence, and religious freedom challenges. But unfortunately, President Trump has canceled hundreds of millions of dollars in these programs, leaving the United States less equipped to address the topic of today's hearing. Trump canled all of our peace, democracy, and governance activities worth $74 million. These programs helped improve early response to conflict, bolster the justice system, and facilitate dialogue.
▶ 0:16:46He canled all of our education and economic growth programs, altogether totaling nearly $170 million. These projects were getting at the root cause of conflict and violence across the country. And that's not to mention all of the canceled humanitarian assistance that was helping those who've survived war and conflict. Trump's aid freeze has closed clinics and left over 2 million Nigerians without access to HIV medication.
▶ 0:17:13In total, President Trump canceled 54 foreign assistance programs just in Nigeria. Mr. Chair, I request unanimous consent to submit a document listing all paused or terminated programs in Nigeria into the record. Thank you. So if we want the United States to help improve conflict in Nigeria, we can't pull back and eliminate our toolbox, which is exactly what the Trump administration is doing.
▶ 0:17:37So I hope that during this hearing we can hear more about what the United States can actually do to support Nigerians in a whole of government approach to address conflict and violence and protect religious freedom. Thank you. I yield back. Thank you, Miss Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I welcome the witnesses and I thank you for your testimony. Nigeria is Africa's largest economy and most populous country.
▶ 0:18:04It is a critical player in the region and maintaining a strong US Nigeria relationship based on shared values is essential. Nigeria is a diverse country with hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups and has one of the largest populations of Christians in Africa. country is split nearly evenly between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south. In 2023, over 3,500 people were kidnapped. Almost 9,000 were killed in conflict.
▶ 0:18:34So, the work that must be done includes essential efforts to bring these diverse communities together and strengthen governance to end corruption and violence. It is both logical and necessary for the United States to fund projects in Nigeria that engage local communities to create space for interfaith dialogue and address the root causes of violence such as access to resources, education, and health care with the nuance that they
▶ 0:19:05deserve. These are not trivial, unnecessary projects. This is the work that has to be done to stabilize a country to bring humanitarian assistance to those caught in the midst of violence and conflict and extremism and bring about peace.
▶ 0:19:21Let me be clear that the mass cancellation of USID projects and the dismantling of USID by the Trump administration will only worsen this violence and weaken the institutions needed to combat extremism before it reaches our borders. Before the reckless actions of the Trump administration, the United States was the largest donor to the humanitarian response in Nigeria.
▶ 0:19:47But the administration's attack on foreign assistance, on diversity initiatives, and so-called wokeism are weakening the very tools that we need to address these complex crises. I'm looking forward to hearing from our witnesses and discussing uh more the situation and what the United States can do to make sure that we remain a strong partner in uh supporting the the governance of Nigeria. I thank you and I yield back. Thank you.
▶ 0:20:17I'd like to welcome our very distinguished panel. Thank them for taking the time to be here u for traveling long distance. Bishop and um looking forward to your testimonies because we need your insights uh as we proceed forward. Um let me first begin by introducing Nina Shay, a senior fellow of the Hudson Institute where she directs the Center for Religious Freedom, an entity she founded back in 1986.
▶ 0:20:43Mich has been a human rights lawyer for over 30 years who works extensively for the advancement of individual religious freedom and other human rights and US foreign policy. Um and again she's been a frequent um witness house and senate on a myriad of c of countries and issues especially China uh and their egregious human rights abuses particularly as it relates to religious freedom.
▶ 0:21:11Beginning in 1999, she was appointed uh for seven terms by the US House to serve as a commissioner on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. She was appointed as a US delegate to the UN's main human rights body by both Republicans and Democrat administrations. A lawyer by training, she undertakes analysis and strategic advocacy regarding religious freedom as a component of US foreign policy. She her first client before the UN was Soviet Nobel Peace Prize laurate Sakurov.
▶ 0:21:38She was also the principal leader of the coalition for intellectual religious freedom act in 1998. Uh she initiated the executive order on advancing religious freedom directing the prioritization of religious freedom in US foreign policy and which was signed by President Trump on June 20th June 2nd 2020 u and she co-authored three books on religious persecution including silenced how apostasy and blasphemy codes are choking freedom worldwide. uh she writes frequently in Wall Street Journal, National Review and elsewhere.
▶ 0:22:08We will then hear from Tony Perkins who's president of the Family Research Council. He's also the former chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Uh be prior to joining F FRC in August of 2003. He served in the New Indiana legislature where he was a leading pro-life pro- family voice.
▶ 0:22:27He during his tenure uh he expanded the organization to reach beyond Washington uh and has made a huge network particularly of churches uh overseas uh which really are speaking up not just for faith but for freedom and I appreciate that. In 2018, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appointed Tony to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
▶ 0:22:52In May 2020, he was reappointed and he like I said served as both chair and vice chair of that very important commission which was created by the international religious freedom act um uh in 1998. Then we'll hear from his excellency bishop Wilfred Nagabi who's the bishop of mccura dascese in Menu state of Nigeria. Thank you for traveling all this way to be here bishop. very long route.
▶ 0:23:20We deeply appreciate that he entered religious life as a clarity missionary and and has carried out many administrative duties of the order. Um he he um was was ordained as the a priest on August 6, 1994. Uh and then by Pope Francis on October 4th uh 2014, the feast day of St. Francis of Aisi uh to be a bishop.
▶ 0:23:48Um his motto is to serve Jesus and the brethren. The dascese where that he leads is where the worst of the violent persecution in Nigeria is occurring by militant fani causing the highest number of displaced people living in internally displaced camps. Matter of fact those camps are the source of daily attacks by the militant Islamic extremists.
▶ 0:24:11One of the things that I have raised with with Nigerian leaders uh and I hope that the president will raise it himself, our president here in the United States is that if we had an a kind of theft, murder, anything, and you call the police and they don't show up, that's what's happening throughout Nigeria. Uh you know, the delay becomes denial and then there's no investigation and nobody is held to account. It's unbelievable u that that can exist, but it does.
▶ 0:24:41So thank you bishop for again for bearing witness to a very ugly truth. We then hear from Ms. Anal Bo. Is that am I saying that right? Analog Boo. Uh who is the African program director at the Wilson Center. She is governance and democracy professional with nearly two decades of experience on Africa and US African relations including working with civil um uh with African governments, international partners, civil society, academia and the private sector.
▶ 0:25:10uh she most recently was the director of the West Africa program at the US Institute of Peace where she led the strategic development and expansion of uh USIP's portfolio in Nigeria and coastal West Africa. In this position, she oversaw the design and implementation of projects to mitigate violent conflict, promote inclusion and uh strengthen community oriented security by partnering with African and US policy makers, civic leaders and organizations.
▶ 0:25:37I'd like to now turn the floor over to Nina Shay and thank you. All of your statements in their entirety will be made a part of the record without objection. Uh but please take the time that's necessary. Uh we're not in a hurry. We want to hear from you. So please uh make sure that you convey that to us, your thoughts. Thank you very much, Mr.
▶ 0:25:58Chairman, um, Representative Jacobs, and members of the subcommittee, um, for prioritizing conflict and persecution in Nigeria as your very first, uh, hearing of this subcommittee uh, for this session. And Chairman Smith, you've been a congressional hero to legions of persecuted um, victims, victims of persecution um, around the world.
▶ 0:26:22And congratulations on your uh, leadership in this subcommittee, your My testimony will focus on the persecution of Christian farming communities by militant fani Muslim herders. In the interest of time, I will not address the Islamist terror groups that are already designated as terrorist and sanctioned by the US government. They include Boka Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa, which attacks um Nigerians of all faith backgrounds.
▶ 0:26:51Nigeria now ranks six out of 66 on the uh just released 2025 global terrorism index. Nigeria is the world's deadliest country for Christians according to the respected group open doors.
▶ 0:27:07Uh currently militant groups of nomadic fani Muslim herd herders are reported by the US commission on international religious freedom among others to be the greatest threat to Nigerian Christians particularly those uh that we're now seeing in the middle belt farming communities in Benway Plateau Kaduna and other middle belt states thousands of Christians have been killed maimed and raped and millions of them have been driven from their lands and are now homeless due to fani
▶ 0:27:38attacks. This is the heart of Nigeria's bread basket and as their farming families are slaughtered or forced to flee, the region's suffering is compounded by growing mass hunger. Moreover, the targeted indigenous people of the middle belt Christian communities face the Nigerian government's decision to tolerate this persecution. Uh the federal government in Abuja remains passive in the face of desperate cries for help.
▶ 0:28:06The UN High Commissioner for Refugees reports of Mimi, one of two million IDPs, internally displaced persons in Benway State. She survived a Filani attack three years ago while her family was tending the yam fields on her farm. It uh when they looked up, they saw armed men. There was no time to run. The men raped and killed Mimi's 11year-old daughter. Mimi herself was raped and her husband was killed.
▶ 0:28:35A hunter later found her injured and unconscious and helped her into the bush. They hid her there for two days before it was safe enough for him to bring her uh to the camp. There she received medical treatment and reunited with her two sons now aged 12 and 15. I lost everything, says Mimi. If you go to my village, everything has been burned down. I cannot farm any longer. And it's not only me. We all went through these things.
▶ 0:29:02The government allows fani violence to continue with impunity. There is broad concern that this reflects a plan to forcibly Islamize Nigeria in violation of its secular constitution. Last week, the Nigerian Catholic Bishop's Conference released a letter expressing deep concern that some of the 12 northern states that imposed Sharia law ordered Catholic and other Christian schools closed for five weeks in forced observance of Ramadan.
▶ 0:29:31and they cited the constitution's guarantee of a secular state. Over the last generation, a portion of the fani nomadic herder population has become wellarmed with automatic weapons and aggressive in targeting undefended Christians in Nigeria's middle belt farming areas.
▶ 0:29:48Various observers on the ground assert that the fani militants are not attacking to graze cattle as some maintain but rather to drive out the Christians from their ancestral lands and to take control of of land of villages and larger geographic areas.
▶ 0:30:05UNHCR report above states, quote, nearly all the 7,000 3,790 registered residents of Ichwa IDP camp and many other camps dotted around Benway state were uh were small holder farmers forced here by violent land grabs. A Benway Catholic priest told reporters, "It's all about seizing the lands and changing the demography of Benway state.
▶ 0:30:35The fani terrorists want to seize the fertile lands of Benway, chase away the people from the land, and occupy the lands for themselves," he said. A 2023 study by Nigerian scholars on Plateau State found the great majority of Plateau's indigenous people from non-fani ethnic groups believe that fani violence is motivated by land grabbing, jihad, and fonization uh compared with smaller percentages who blame cattle rustling.
▶ 0:31:03Cattle rustling does occur, but fani attacks are indiscriminate and devastate entire Christian villages. Ignoring citizens appeals for help, Nigeria's government fails to effectively stop these attacks. Take Benway, where Catholic priests and other Christians were recently abducted in fani raids. A priest identified to the press three key key areas along the Benway River and he names them.
▶ 0:31:30It's in my testimony where fani terrorists cross from Nazarawa state to attack overwhelmingly Christian villages in Benway. The government ignores church pleas to place military posts near these known hotspots or have naval patrols on the river.
▶ 0:31:46a Ben White priest told me or Kaduna where in on February 26th, Truth Nigeria reported over 200 Christians are being held hostage, starved and tortured in a camp near an army base in a wooded area off the busy Kaduna Abuja Expressway.
▶ 0:32:04It came to light when three months after being abducted abducted from their homes, eight hostages in dire condition were released after a ransom payment of 20 equivalent to 27,000 US. They had been chained, whipped, and starved and referred to as infidels by captives speaking the fan full day language. They witnessed others dying from starvation or shot dead when the ransoms did come. And as far as we know, it's still there.
▶ 0:32:34Um and just last weekend, uh a Christian from Ado Amu state, uh Sunday Jackson, um had a death penalty upheld by the high court of Nigeria for um uh in def in self-defense, killing an attacker on his property. The pontipical aid to the church in need counts scores of priests kidnappings in Nigeria with over 20 murdered in recent years.
▶ 0:33:03Seven Catholic priests have been kidnapped since January. A week ago, Father Sylvester of St. Mary's Church in Kaduna was kidnapped and slain. Two pastors in Kaduna and Gomebe states with the Evangelical Church of Winning all were murdered this year already.
▶ 0:33:22Abuja's uh Archbishop Kagame uh strongly criticized the escalating kidnappings of Catholic priests, citing quote poor leadership at all levels, local government, state government, and federal government. Some conclude that Abuja's pacivity, including failing even to collect data on the attacks, shows government The board chair of the Nigerian private group international society for civil liberties and the rule of law is among them.
▶ 0:33:52The state department report on international religious freedom solely gives a neoarxian materialistic theory for fani aggression. It describes the relentless attacks against Christian farming families on their own farms and violence against priests and pastors in their church and rectories as clashes between two rural rural socioeconomic groups fighting over scarce natural resources a result of climate change. It ignores the evidence.
▶ 0:34:20It overlooks possible radicalization of fani herdsmen who travel across co borders in the sahal and northern northeastern Nigeria regions recognized by the US government as terror hotbeds. It shows no concern for their automatic weapons distributed reportedly by the mietti groups the cattle breeders lobbying association members.
▶ 0:34:41It disregards the Nigerian government's toleration of this violence by allowing it to continue with I therefore urge Congress to call uh to call for the State Department as a first step to designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern. I am certain that the US Commission on International Religious Freedom will soon renew its recommendation of CPC designation for Nigeria.
▶ 0:35:08Placing Nigeria on the US's short list of the world's most egregious religious freedom violators is warranted and would be a foundation for further human rights initiatives by the new administration here. It is the law. It's uh it's standing standing up for uh religious freedom is part of American exceptionalism. It's part of our heritage, our traditions, and our um to respect uh the unalienable right of religious freedom.
▶ 0:35:38That concludes my testimony. Thank you, Shay. Thank you so very much for your testimony, for your decades of dedication to this important issue. Mr. Perkins, thank you, Mr. Chairman, Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Jacobs, and members of the subcommittee. First, let me thank you for your opening comments. Uh, it's it's refreshing to see we have agreement. We understand that there is a problem. Now, coming to a solution is our challenge. So, thank you for your your insight.
▶ 0:36:08I want to thank you for the opportunity to testify this morning. Uh, my name is Tony Perkins. I served as a commissioner on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom from 2018 to 2022. And as the chairman said, I served as both chair and vice chair. From my time on userf, I can tell you with certainty that the world is not paying enough attention to the growing humanitarian disaster in Nigeria.
▶ 0:36:34Despite its strategic importance as Africa's most populous country, these warning lights are flashing because of this systematic religious persecution driven primarily by Islamist and it's going unressed. Christians are the primary targets. They're murdered, kidnapped, raped, and terrorized on almost a daily basis, as has already been discussed. The numbers are staggering. The brutality is unspeakable, and the silence from global leaders is deafening.
▶ 0:37:04Let me share just one recent example. On February 9th, Fuani terrorists armed with AK-47s. These are not hunting rifles. These are rifles designed to kill. I served p after coming out of the Marine Corps. I worked with the state department in anti-terrorism and very familiar with the the mode in operation of terrorist. They stormed a village in Gamb state. They first seized a nine-year-old boy from the Puma family and demanded ransom.
▶ 0:37:31They then sought out the Reverend Bala Galadima's home. They found him. They broke into his home. They demanded money. He pleaded with them saying that he had none. But he offered them what he had. He had grain. So he offered them grain. They refused. They shot him three times, killing him. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident.
▶ 0:37:53In late January, Boka Haram launched a series of coordinated attacks on Christian villages in Chebach, the same region where 276 school girls were kidnapped in 2014. Mr. Chairman, you'll remember that. We discussed it then. In fact, many of those girls remain captives to this day. The terrorists set homes and churches ablaze, destroyed livestock, and demanded that Christians convert or they die.
▶ 0:38:20More than 4,000 believers have been forced to flee their for their lives in recent weeks alone. As has been mentioned, according to Open Doors, more Christians are murdered for their faith in Nigeria than any other country in the world. 2024 alone, 3,100 Christians were killed. 2,830 were kidnapped. These are not just numbers. These are fathers, their mothers, their children, their families.
▶ 0:38:49The case of Leah Sheru underscores the horror of this crisis. Leah was just 14 years old when Boka Haram kidnapped her and 108 other girls from their school in 2018. The terrorist eventually released all the girls except Leah. Why? Because she refused to renounce her Christian faith. Reports suggest she is still alive and now held as a prize by her capttors as she has been forced to bear children in captivity.
▶ 0:39:19As a commissioner on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, I met with her family multiple times and worked with the previous administration to track her hopefully trying to gain her freedom. We were not successful. This this is what religious persecution in Nigeria looks like. It is violent. It is brutal and it is worsening.
▶ 0:39:46In 2020, the Trump administration based on recommendations from usurp and I was a part of the that team Nigeria was designated as a country of particular concern. This was an essential step recognizing the Nigerian government was failing to protect religious minorities from systematic violence.
▶ 0:40:09Yet in 2021, the B administration inexplicably removed Nigeria's CPC designation despite the fact that attack against Christians had increased. Former Secretary of State Anthony Blinkin later suggested in a meeting with USUF members, which I was present, that these massacres were caused by climate change. that desperate fani herders were simply looking for land. Let me be clear. This is not about change.
▶ 0:40:39It's about a violent extremist ideology that seeks to eliminate Christianity from Nigeria's northern and central regions. The evidence is undeniable. This is systematic religious violence. The US government must act and they must act now. Nigeria must be redesated a country of concern. Bid administration's removal of this designation was reckless a reckless mistake that emboldened the very terrorists who are slaughtering Christians.
▶ 0:41:08The evidence overwhelmingly meets the legal threshold under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 which requires CPC status for governments that engage in or tolerate tolerate severe violations of religious freedom. That's exactly what Nigeria Nigeria's government has done. It has failed to protect all of its citizens from violence. The US must impose consequences.
▶ 0:41:38Under the International Religious Freedom Act, the president has the authority to take action against CPC designated nations, including economic penalties. The US should apply targeted sanctions against Nigerian officials who are complicit in religious persecution as well as suspend certain trade benefits until concrete actions are taken to protect all Nigerians. Religious freedom protection must be tied to US Nigerian relations.
▶ 0:42:05The administration should make it clear that Nigeria's treatment of religious minorities will directly impact diplomatic and economic relations, including trade agreements and security Finally, the US must reappoint a strong, high-profile ambassador for international religious freedom. During the first Trump administration, this role was used effectively under the leadership of Ambassador Sam Brownback to apply global pressure on persecuting nations.
▶ 0:42:33The momentum for that must be regained. In closing, Mr. Chairman, it is time for the United States to send an unmistakable message, to draw a red line. The slaughter of Christians and other religious minorities in Nigeria will not be tolerated. If Nigeria continues to allow terrorists to burn churches, execute pastors, and kidnap school girls with impunity, there must consequences. This is not just about Nigeria.
▶ 0:43:03It is about the future of religious freedom, the stability of Africa, the moral credibility of the United States. If we fail to act, make no mistake about it, this crisis will spread. Refugees will flood into neighboring countries. Terrorists will bolder, and America's silence will embolden jihadist worldwide.
▶ 0:43:26Chairman Smith, members of committee, thank you for helping raise awareness of the need to redesate Nigeria as a country of particular concern. The world is watching, but more importantly, the religious persecution and those who are the victims of that in Nigeria are watching. They're waiting to see if America will stand with them and for them. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much, Mr. Perkins, for your testimony and your leadership as well.
▶ 0:43:56Um, and your work on the Religious Freedom Commission was legendary. We do have Moren Ferguson here with us today who's a commissioner on the religious freedom commission. Dominic Kuzo who's a pastor from my district who's very involved with religious freedom issue. Thank you for being here. And I'd like to just point out David Trimble is here as well from RFI. Uh when I did the bill 2019, it was a religious freedom Frank Wolf. We named it after Frank Wolf.
▶ 0:44:26Um got it passed in the Senate. It was it was dead in the water on the and he did so much to get it passed and I want to thank him for that because otherwise it would have been just another House passed bill like we all know goes over to the Senate and that's the graveyard of of legislation. But I want to thank him for what he did to get that through. I'd like to now recognize and again thank him profusely for traveling here uh and at great risk. Uh Bishop floor is Thank you Mr.
▶ 0:44:56chairman and members of the committee for giving me an opportunity to be heard at a critical time in my country and particularly my Benway. I am with Fred Chipia here as the bishop the Catholic bishop of Makodi dasis the capital of Benway state in Nigeria. I am the shepherd of one of the four dasis Catholic dasises in Benway.
▶ 0:45:22We have others Anglican Methodist and which Benway state has a population of about 6.1 million people 2 million of whom are those under my care as the bishop of the dasis. Benway state is about 98% Christian with very few Muslims living in towns.
▶ 0:45:45Nigeria and eventually my dasis in the state of Benu have become in recent years one of the most dangerous and insecure places for Christians. Christians and Muslims are nearly evenly divided among Nigeria's large population of over 200 million persons. Islamist extremists are fiercely contesting the possession, control and governing law of the land, especially in the country's northern and central regions.
▶ 0:46:13The letter of which is where Benway is located. There are constant ethnic, political and religious conflicts over land and allegiance. Constitutionally, we are a secularist country, but our unity has been fragile. Political and religious actions and even public speech have been carefully managed to avoid accusations of religious bias and political tensions.
▶ 0:46:39Today the clear influence of Islamist extremist has changed the traditional social dynamics of tribe, ethnic, ethnicity, religion and the social status in Nigeria because just recently at the beginning of the Ramadan fast 12 states in northern Nigeria have declared public declared have closed schools so that they attend to this and you can imagine which other country in the world does that? Saudi Arabia is not doing it. Afghanistan is not doing it.
▶ 0:47:09Baghdad is not doing it but then Nigeria is practicing. What kind of islam are they practicing? Five 12 states and not only Muslims are living in these places. What happens with the educational program or curriculum of this of the country but this is what we are going through every day in Nigeria.
▶ 0:47:28A long-term Islamic agenda to homogenize the population has been implemented over several presidencies through a strategic a strategy to reduce and eventually eliminate the Christian identity of of half of the population.
▶ 0:47:44This strategy includes both violent and nonviolent actions such as the exclusion of Christians from positions of power and adoption of such church members, the raping of women, the killing and explosion of Christians, the destruction of churches and farmlands of Christian farmers followed by the occupation of such lands by the fan herders and also changing the names of these villages. They're taking over the places.
▶ 0:48:07So you clearly see an expansionist approach and Islamic and then they are making the people now flee and leave their villages and they take take the conquer it. The quest to Islam is Islamalized the land appears high on the agenda of some of the powerful and influential Muslims in Nigeria. There is a campaign to take land to spread Islam.
▶ 0:48:31And there is the the homeaging of Christian farmers from the central region of Nigeria and Benway stateis in particular as they are forced to abandon fatal lines that used to feed the nation which classify Benway as the food basket of the nation. Militant fani are terrorists destroying society. They steal and vandalize. They kill and boast about it. They kidnap and rape and they enjoy total impunity from the elected authorities.
▶ 0:49:00None of them have been arrested and brought to justice. This is supported by the corrupt system in which we operate and the abject poverty among us which allow the criminals to easily attract more recruits and prey on more victims. Why is this happening? Is it re is it really a religious war? Like in the past many jihadists are motivated less by religion than by spo of war and use their religion to impose themselves.
▶ 0:49:28In my dasis the spo consists mainly of fertile weightended land organized around parishes or so. The judges come and adopt and kill the priests leaving thousands without support and basic human services. And of course when they despise the people the inhabitants or the citizens or the people of the lands they take over. and any attempt to go back and take care of your farms surely you get killed.
▶ 0:49:54The Makodi dasis in Beno state has been the epicenter of the inversion of by these headers who are more like hired guns of cattle oligarchies who manipulate religion to rally the headers to eliminate the Christian population and cleanse the land in the name of Islam. This objective is behind the relentless attacks against Ben's villages. When we call for help to the police and the army, they do not come.
▶ 0:50:21At the end of 2024, several villages were warned by the attackers of the upcoming violence and the leaders called the police for defense ahead of time. But they did not come and the Christian massacres almost customary took place killing hundreds in Plateau and Benway with the worst massacre claiming four people. The militant also burned down the eight Catholic churches of St.
▶ 0:50:46Mary's parish in the dasis of boo which in Ben said as well as the parish house clinic schools and other houses the militant fan heres men bear on defenseless villages without consequences they follow orders to conquer kill and occupy they attack even those who have managed to escape into our IDP camps thereby they have no place to run and it is unfortunate that the the police system in Nigeria or others have to come from above
▶ 0:51:17and such that once there's a call and they said they have never res and by the time they arrive these people have left and people are now living the pool of their plot what I have recounted above is happening not only in Benway state I believe our experience in Benu is symptomatic of what is happening elsewhere in large parts of Nigeria the experience of the Nigerian Christians today can be summed up as that of a church under Islamic Islamist extermination it is frightening to live there.
▶ 0:51:47Apart from the violent campaigns and attacks against Christian villages, there are now attempts by the Islamic Council of Nigeria and various Islamic groups to impose Sharia law on the Christian populations. Already 12 states in the north of Nigeria are under this sectarian religious law and attempts to extend the same to the south of Nigeria which they have started.
▶ 0:52:09This month, governors in the north decided approply to close all schools and education institutions during the months of Ramadan, leaving millions of students without learning opportunity for five weeks. We live in fear because of because at any point it can be our turn to be killed. But to remain silent is to die twice.
▶ 0:52:30So I have chosen to speak I speak on behalf of the millions who are in the camps in Benway state in Maki dasis alone in my dasis have about nine camps nine on the 5th of March which was ash Wednesday I we visited one of the camps and many of my priests and religious went to the other camps distributed them to begin the ash Wednesday with our faithful who are there because we are the voice of the voiceless. We have to talk for the defenseless.
▶ 0:53:00We have to talk about the weak and those who cannot talk about themselves. In one of the camps called the mega camp, there were over 3,000 immates of that camp and which was a record given to us by government.
▶ 0:53:14I speak on behalf of them and those children who have no husband, who have no father and even their own voice is taken away by the politicians who promise to help them but have become the willing tools of the jihadists because they are talking polit politically statements looking for next elections to come. I speak on behalf of those whose loved ones have been killed but no one has even offered a word of consolation to them.
▶ 0:53:41I speak on behalf of the thousands of young girls who have been adopted and raped because no one, not even the media, mentions them to anymore. Foremost, I speak on behalf of my flock who are unable to worship freely and unable to return to their ancestral farms and homes because that land has been ruthlessly taken from them by the armed men. And where they say they want to live in peace with the natives, if you must farm, you have to pay tax.
▶ 0:54:11to the land which belongs to you. That is slavery to say the least about it. As propos Nigeria as proposed Nigeria is is in African continent and tell you if there's outbreak of war in Nigeria no country around us Chad Niger Ghana Guinea October no country can contain the population that will f these places.
▶ 0:54:38No country can be able to house over 5 million refugees. It's not possible because of that. And if 1 million refugees run to charge and jail, they will collapse the other country because there'll be no plan to take care of them. So we have to be very careful. Today I urge you all to use every means within your mandate to to start developing a strong and good relationship with Nigeria where you know that when you speak of human dignity, you are also speaking of the same God-given right you believe.
▶ 0:55:08is unalienable. Consider that Nigeria can be your ally, but it cannot be one where half the population is in the process of being moderously eliminated. Work with us, the churches and other Nigerians of goodwill. We are working for a peaceful and prosperous society and our desperate plight has been set aside US police policy for too long to the cost of thousands of lives.
▶ 0:55:35Concretely, I request I ask you to redesate Nigeria as a country of particular concern. This has both a practical and diplomatic meaning to signal that you are paying attention to what happens to us and elsewhere in the world because the the policies the government is trying to put in place so that they return the IDPs I mean build camps for them, relocate them from their homes, it is not durable and it will not work
▶ 0:56:06because The government has already the population that is not able to take care of and then you have over millions of people in the camps and they want to relocate them to where and if you do let's take that you do how many houses or rooms will you give me who has five children another one has three has two and what will be doing for a living these people previously never begged anybody for food they were managing their lives train their children and building their homes so nobody should have deceived us some of the guys that going to reset to the IDPs
▶ 0:56:36They have no jobs. So where you set them? What will be their place? And by the way, the fundamental question remains if you resettle them to other camps or build places with them, what happens to their ancestral lands? Who takes care of them? And this is whereby I feel the government is complicent on this issue because this terrorist fan displacing kill people and then occupy the place and then change names nominators of towns for what reason?
▶ 0:57:04So we want to let the people go back to their homes and help for them to rebuild their lives. I implore this august body to insist on the return and rep of all the IDP to the ancestral lands and not to relocate them to other constructed camps elsewhere which is an invented solution now being pushed by in the Benway state government and I tell you Nigeria government can do that once they have to accountable because I know Nigeria under the opices of Echomog
▶ 0:57:34was able to to reinstate conal government in Sureno and Liberia and they can do that now. We have the capacity because the leaders that are are not prepared and I think that's where look it's not just you know conspiracy of silence it is aiding abating and supporting supporting these terrorists to keep doing their work. Mr. Thank you very much for this attention. Bishop, thank you very much for your testimony and again for your courage to be here.
▶ 0:58:04uh we know you go back and you face risks uh and our prayers are with you but we will follow up on on your admonitions that you have given us today. I'd like to recognize our final witness and thank you very much uh Chairman Smith, ranking member Jacobs and distinguished committee members. I appreciate the opportunity to testify before this uh committee today.
▶ 0:58:33I serve as director of the Africa program at the Wilson Center, although the views expressed here are my own. In keeping with the nonpartisan policy focused work of the Wilson Center, I offer the following comments recommendations. Consecutive US administrations have described the US relationship with Nigeria as among the most important in Africa.
▶ 0:58:57This year marks 26 years of uninterrupted civilian rule in Nigeria, the longest period of constitutional governance since the country's independence in October 1960. Furthermore, as Nigeria serves a second term one-year chairmanship of the economic community of West African states echo us, the country's leaders understandably expect to lead regional coordination efforts given Nigeria's size, political and economic influence and
▶ 0:59:27decision-making power within the block. As Echoas turns 50 this year, good leadership will be crucial to address the rising threats to regional integration, security, and economic stability that have beset the sub region in recent years.
▶ 0:59:45However, whether and how Nigeria tackles its own internal governance and security challenges will set the pace not only at home in Nigeria, but also in the broader West Africa region. As Nigeria's internal internal struggles worsen, what is clear is that the country's instability is rooted in a vital shortcoming.
▶ 1:00:09After 64 years of independence, the country still struggles to cultivate a national identity, rooted in basic freedoms and dignity for its people. In Nigeria today, ethnicity, religion, and language, not nationality, remain the benchmarks of personal identity for the country's highly diverse population.
▶ 1:00:34While Nigeria has witnessed repeated ethnic and religious clashes over the years, its ethnically and religiously diverse population is not the problem or the cause of these conflicts. The problem however is that ethnicity and religion in Nigeria have become instrumental markers that are used to mobilize and successfully acquire power, resources and political dominance.
▶ 1:01:02It is important to understand the nature of violence in Nigeria and its causes which extend beyond the religious or ethnic overtones that appear to motivate that animosity. I grew up in Joss Plateau State in Nigeria's Middle Belt region. I visit Joss regularly, including in December 2024, just a few days before the Christmas weekend attacks that killed and displaced hundreds.
▶ 1:01:32These types of attacks have plagued local communities in Plateau State for more than 20 years. Having grown up in the middle belt region, I am deeply aware of the compounding impacts of these protracted conflicts on once communities.
▶ 1:01:50Whether labeled as banditry or terrorism or communal clashes or ethnreligious conflict, at the root of this violence is a failure of governance to meet the population's most basic needs. not only livelihoods, education and healthcare, but also their need for perpetrators to be held legitimately accountable.
▶ 1:02:14Elections and political appointments are two important areas where the interplay between religion and politics is most clearly demonstrated in Nigeria. Nigerian political leaders romanticize Nigeria's unity but do little to cultivate it. On the contrary, they often ethnic and religious tensions in election campaigns, seemingly to distract from their failures to deliver for the people they are supposed to serve.
▶ 1:02:44The divisive political climate of the 2023 elections illustrated this tendency. Furthermore, offcycle elections conducted in 2024 also exposed the fragility of Nigeria's electoral process as some political actors openly intimidated election officials and violently disrupted elections suspending by elections in Kano Aquaomb and Inugu Certainly
▶ 1:03:14recent data as that from the non-denominational global network open doors appears to indicate that violence against Christians who make up 46% of the population has been unadressed by the previous Bhari administration and no tangible progress has been made under the current Tinubu administration. But we also know that violence overall in Nigeria has increased over time.
▶ 1:03:44The National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria reported that complaints of human rights rose by 25% in February alone. The Nigerian Social Cohesion Survey conducted in 2022 also found that an overwhelming majority of Nigerians, 96% to be precise, consider human rights abuses and violations to be a problem in the country.
▶ 1:04:12This indicates not only that violence and rights abuses afflict many groups but also that Nigerians understand and respect the concept of rights. Now let me offer some recommendations a few recommendations to the United States.
▶ 1:04:34It is important to engage deep deeply and broadly with communities across Nigeria to better understand the nuances driving insecurity in the country. While it is never wise to dismiss religion as a cause of conflict, it is also unproductive to label a conflict as solely driven by religion when there are so many other factors at play.
▶ 1:05:02The root causes of Nigeria's conflicts and insecurity are deeper and more complex than generally discussed. Second, develop a holistic and long-term vision for US engagement with Nigeria on issues of governance and security. The US Nigeria bational commission formed in 2010 already provides a framework that supports country-to-ountry discussions on issues of security and governance.
▶ 1:05:31After 15 years, it is time to take stock. Discussions in the commission should take a fresh look that emphasizes security partnership sustained over the long term, seeking areas where cooperation is still possible and efforts that are most promising for real change, such as local and non-government Third, work more with Nigeria states and its growing city centers.
▶ 1:06:01The US government should decentralize its engagement with Nigeria by strengthening its dialogue with and support to receptive government and civic leaders at the state and local level. Next, support democratic actors that are advancing inclusive peace processes and conflict resolution.
▶ 1:06:21Civic and religious leaders in Nigeria can serve as important bridges between communities and government, especially in communities where the government lacks account lacks credibility.
▶ 1:06:34Partner with the Nigerian government to make accountability central to the response to conflict and support the judiciary to uphold the rule of law and coordinate intelligence sharing with institutions of government that are working to track financial transactions related to suspected terrorist activity, including terrorist funding. Next, we should rethink US and international policies that lead to knee-jerk responses to crisis.
▶ 1:07:05reactive quickwin actions that may seem beneficial to Nigerians could have larger and far-reaching ne negative impacts and finally revive the US congressional bipartisan caucus on Nigeria which served as a space to prioritize discussions on issues of US Nigeria relations.
▶ 1:07:28An active congressional bipartisan caucus will signify the importance of US Nigeria relations and create a forum to proactively consider wide perspectives on different issues of concern to better inform legislative response. And now recommendations to the Nigerian government. Coordinate federal and state action and messaging.
▶ 1:07:51Effective coordination so desperately needed among Nigeria's federal and state governments is too often undermined by fingerpointing. That must stop. Since assuming office, President Tinubu has called for better synergy and cooperation among security agencies to address insecurity in the country. However, concrete steps must be taken to move this aspiration to reality. Nigeria also needs to get serious about police reform.
▶ 1:08:20In December 2004, the governors of Nigeria's 36 states unanimously endorsed the establishment of state police as a measure to combat the nation's rising insecurity. While this is a significant shift in policing in Nigeria, it is still unclear how this will be operationalized.
▶ 1:08:38Police reform should not be about state policing only, but it should consider but it should consist of a broader conversation that is rooted in the country's present realities rooted in the country's present realities and applies lessons learned from past efforts. Third, Nigeria needs to make accountability of perpetrators and of the authorities central to its response. Nigerians need justice.
▶ 1:09:06Criminality in the middle belt and elsewhere in other parts of the country has grown in part because of impunity. The trends underlining the violence that we see in different parts of the country can be traced and can be anticipated if the appropriate government security agencies have effective early warning and rapid mechanisms. Nigeria should also start laying the groundwork for peaceful elections in 2027.
▶ 1:09:32This year 2025 will be a critical year for elections in Nigeria as the current chairperson of Nigeria's election commission completes his second and final term in December 20 in December 2025. Finally, Nigeria needs to appoint an ambassador to the United States. It has been 18 months since Nigeria recalled its ambassador from Washington and other diplomatic missions worldwide.
▶ 1:10:00Nigeria needs senior diplomatic representation to deepen its engagement with the US across all spectrums, including in discussions like these, and to support and engage with Nigeria's dynamic and largely successful diaspora communities across the United States. In conclusion, clearly a fresh approach is needed both for Nigeria and for the US. US and international policies on Nigeria must include a better understanding of the country's complexities.
▶ 1:10:30Stepping back to honestly reanalyze how governance in Nigeria really works and how it does not work is crucial to addressing the question of conflict and persecution in Nigeria. Thank you for inviting me to testify and I look forward to your questions. Thank you so very much for your testimony and I think your your point about failure of governance u couldn't be stronger stated. Uh when the bishop said a moment ago that when they make calls to law enforcement uh to respond they don't come.
▶ 1:11:00I have heard that over and over and over again particularly as it relates to the fani but I remember in the early days of Boka Haram. Uh I had assistant secretary Johnny Carson testify at several of my hearings Africa um assistant secretary uh and he just said Boo Haram was a group of bandits. They had no u thread of of wanting a caliphate which we found out later they did.
▶ 1:11:26uh that they were not u promoting aggressive Islamist views uh which they were and and I did indicate in my opening comments that how I I we tried to get Boaram designated as a foreign terrorist organization and they had even blown up a a building that killed some the UN types including an American in Abuja and all of that was just overlooked.
▶ 1:11:52What Johnny Carson said here in this room at that hearing was that all his Boaram was trying to do is to embarrass good luck Jonathan then the president. I said are you kidding me? Um you know embarrass him? How about they I mean when they took the Chebacc girls and I met with several of the Chebacc girls uh that escaped there were a few that escaped and I met with many of their parents. Uh it had everything with do with turning them into slaves uh and and abusing them horribly.
▶ 1:12:21uh and and forcing them to change from being Christians. Some were Muslim to begin with but not many uh to to u you know a coercive conversion on their part. Um and that woke up some people here but not enough. Uh so you know so your point about failure to govern uh couldn't I brought it up with Bahari many times as as well and got nowhere. Um there was an effort to have a uh cooperation on security side.
▶ 1:12:50Um there was a fusion center as you might know I visited it where our military wanted to work side by side with their military to to especially uh use the best and latest means of combating Boka Haram at the time. Um and they went nowhere. Uh the Lehey amendment was uh invoked by our side. So I had a hearing on that. Found out that half of the people uh that we could have trained uh would have easily passed muster under the Ley amendment.
▶ 1:13:19In other words, they didn't have human rights violations uh attributed to them. Uh but it never happened. It was a it was a great idea, but it went nowhere. Uh so you're right, we need to revisit how do we work together uh on security. And again, if I call my local police department in Manchester, New Jersey because a crime has been committed and they don't show up, uh that is a gross neglect and a gross um um failure to govern. And uh and that is what as we know the Christians are facing each and every day.
▶ 1:13:49Um so I I I thank you for that and I thank all of you. Just a couple of quick points and I'll yield to my distinguished colleagues. Um, you know, in 2013, 2016, I should say, I did write the the follow on to Frank Wolf's famous historic law called the International Religious Freedom Act. Um, and and um, we put a couple of things in there, entities of particular concern. Bocaram is on that list, but I do think the fani need to be on that list as well.
▶ 1:14:17So, that's something we should ask the administration to do. We had a designated person's list where individuals are committing egregious violation of human rights back in 2004. I was the author of the Bellarus Democracy Act. That legislation which was a first of its kind and it led to the Magnisky Act because I was the sponsor of that. We put that into the NDAA to get it passed.
▶ 1:14:39uh but it said we target individuals not just the whole country but individuals who are particularly severe in what they do uh with no visa and no ability to engage economically with the United States in any way shape or form. My hope is that we and I invite you and I invite anyone who has pertinent information of any particular persons that need to be on that list uh so that we can individually sanction them. We've done it in other countries all over the world.
▶ 1:15:09Started with Bellarus with Lucenko, but others have been targeted as well. Uh in in Dear Congo, a lot of Cababilas people were targeted. It's a very effective mechanism uh to to isolate them while we're working on the country itself. So I I invite you any any um individuals that you think should be on there. Uh and again, I do think that uh the fani ought to be an FTO as well.
▶ 1:15:33Not only should they be designated an entity of particular concern, but they need to be go onto the foreign terrorist organization list because of what they're doing. Let me also and get your thoughts on this and remind everybody that country of particular concern requires an annual designation of countries um as to where governments engage in or tolerate that's the language of the statute or tolerate a particularly severe violation of religious freedom during the reporting year.
▶ 1:16:00during the Obama year again I had hearings on this again they wouldn't even name countries so we and we I asked them where's the countries you know says in the statute you shall doesn't say you may and we didn't even get a country uh or a list of those countries so we need to up our our game if you will on promoting religious freedom everywhere and Nigeria in my opinion is just stands out as an area that we need to do so much more uh for on so if you want to speak to any of
▶ 1:16:30those thoughts about entities particularly concerned. Um my hope is that the president I think Mr. Perkins you put it well that that a very robust effort will will be coming soon with regards to religious freedom everywhere including in Nigeria. Um, I mean the suffering brethren of all kinds and I met with every time I go I mean with with with immans if they speak out they've got a a mark on their back and they'll be they'll be killed by the weekend. And I'm not exaggerating.
▶ 1:17:00I heard it from so many I I began to say okay they're not going to speak out. And I remember one particular Iman telling me how um Bokaram they're not us. And I said, 'I know that you know that they are radicalized uh group of people uh who kill and maim and slaughter and rape in order to get their way. So um law enforcement, um if any of you want to speak to that, it seems to me that's so basic.
▶ 1:17:24If you don't have a a a government that that responds to a request, if you had a fire going, would the firefighters show up? I hope so. Well, law enforcement needs to show up. And when they start prosecuting people, you'll see a different uh situation in Nigeria, I believe. Well, if I may, Mr. Chairman, um um yeah, I'd like to respond to that. I think you're right.
▶ 1:17:51Everyone on this witness table has said the same thing that there's been this failure to hold accountable um the uh perpetrators of atrocities. And it's actually worse than someone robbing your home. It's um a systematic uh coordinated attack that uh cleanses entire villages and farming areas of the population who have a certain religious profile that they don't like, I guess.
▶ 1:18:20Um but we don't know. We don't we really don't know what the motives or intents are. Um because the government doesn't investigate or bring to trial anyone for these um uh horrible attacks. And as the bishop pointed out, and he is incredibly courageous to come forward today, um as he said, he doesn't want to die twice. I I hope not not even once.
▶ 1:18:46But um uh they once this process happens of a a clearing an entire village, burning the property um and taking control of it, the IDPs are then sent to temporary camps where the churches help or others um and uh feed them and sustain them until they're permanently relocated somewhere else maybe
▶ 1:19:16a bigger camp um maybe to other parts of the country maybe outside the country um this does is not making any sense it's not sustainable and I think there has to be personal uh pressure because the government is not um has no political will so no amount of programs are going to help this unless there is pre resolve the situation if there's no political will to do anything and that's what we're seeing over and over year after a year, 20 years
▶ 1:19:47um of um the fani herdsmen uh with armed with to their teeth with AKs um the according to um scholars who've written about this Nigerians that this is these guns are given to them these weapons are given to them um by the breeders the cattle breeders the col cattle oligarchs as the bishop called them um and they have to be held accountable also the top people in the government have to be held accountable on a
▶ 1:20:17personal level. Uh they want their visas, they want their bank accounts to the United States. I think this would have teeth. Um and already it's already law and and we should be um getting the names of the uh criminal justice people who are failing who are um in in the in the leadership of the of the government.
▶ 1:20:39And um you're right um the the this is Nigeria is America's u most important partner in Africa and it is a land of the future and there's a lot of promise there and we need to help them um get control of the out of control terror and particularly this uh fani problem whatever you want to call it terror or criminality.
▶ 1:21:10Miss Jacobs. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, uh, Miss Anamoku, I want to start with you. Um, I I really appreciated what you said in your testimony about the need to understand the drivers of violence in Nigeria, which extend beyond religious and ethnic overtones. So, I want to start off uh with a conversation by talking about what these drivers are. What do you see as the primary drivers of conflict and violence across the middle belt?
▶ 1:21:36and what are the political and economic, social or historical factors that exacerbate the conflict in that region? Thank you, Representative uh Jacobs. And um if I may before I respond to that just to touch on a point about police reform as was mentioned Nigeria is significantly underpoliced and as I'd mentioned in my remarks that there have been attempts at police reform at least we've actually seen three from 2006 in 2006
▶ 1:22:06in 2009 and 2012. So the government has been engaging in trying to address the system with the way Nigeria is structured, Nigeria's security architecture where the police is centered in the center um of the country. As I mentioned in December of last year, Nigerian state governors have started looking at decentralizing the police. A lot needs to be done to actually operationalize that since these are conversations that have been happening for over 20 years.
▶ 1:22:36So actually trying to move that aspiration to reality is something as I'd mentioned in recommendations that the US could support the administration in in looking at in terms of the questions on the drivers of violence as I'd mentioned in my remarks where Nigeria's identity the government has failed on really crafting an understanding of identity one that is based on basic freedoms and dignity for the people. People still identify based on their ethnicity, religion and language.
▶ 1:23:07And many politicians, political actors across the board, across the middle belt and in different parts of the country too as well as well have tapped into this and used this to um instigate violence or instigate conflict mostly for the purposes of acquiring power, acquiring resources and acquiring position.
▶ 1:23:26So this is at the root of Nigeria's um a root of the is at the root of the conflict that we see taking it back to the question of governance and really understanding the history of violence and understanding the history of political participation in Nigeria is key and important if we are to really tackle um these conflicts.
▶ 1:23:50If not, we end up only the conflict that we see today is only a symptom of a much larger pro uh of much larger problems. Thank you. And which types of US government investments have been most effective in addressing some of these drivers of conflict?
▶ 1:24:08In my opinion, programs that have been most effective are programs that really work in partnership with the government, in partnership with communities, programs that are able to inform and shape um programs that are able to inform and design um interventions that typically t that are able to effectively tackle uh concerns that are identified by communities.
▶ 1:24:32It is important that communities are part and parcel of identifying the problem and again in terms of programs that we've also seen that has been um successful in complex environments like Nigeria involving nuanced views involving diverse voices in these conversations have often led to Thank you. Um Mr. Perkins, I have a question for you.
▶ 1:24:57Um, last year the State Department hired a seasoned expert to conduct an analysis of conflict and religious freedom dynamics in northern Nigeria. This expert was originally recommended by USURF Commissioner Frank Wolf to gain a better understanding of these issues and advise the department on the exact topic of this hearing today. Unfortunately, due to the Trump administration's aid freeze and cuts, this project is paused. Can you discuss the benefits of this kind of research project?
▶ 1:25:23what what information it would help provide the US government and and how this research could help us effectively address religious freedom challenges in Nigeria. Certainly, I do think there are valuable projects in which the the federal government, state department does fund, but I think we have an overwhelming amount of evidence to suggest that we have a problem.
▶ 1:25:44And I think everyone agrees that whether religion and I I agree with the comments that have been made by everybody on the both this panel as well as the members of the subcommittee that this is a complex issue but to deny the fact that uh and I'm not suggesting anyone is denying this but to say that religion is not a part of the mix uh would be to deny reality because it is it's being it's been weaponized by some as as all of uh testimony has given light to today. So we have the evidence there.
▶ 1:26:14I think that by moving forward with the designation uh we get the attention of the country of Nigeria and and then hopefully the will uh of the Nigerian government to partner in legitimate programs because there are many you you are absolutely correct there are many legitimate programs that can help advance democracy and security in Nigeria. I worked with the state department and part of those in developing the security of the local law enforcement. Uh so there are legitimate ones.
▶ 1:26:44Uh but I think it I I agree with the administration in pausing until we do an analysis of what is working and what is not. Okay. Um Miss Onogu, do you think additional research on the conflict dynamics in northern Nigeria would be beneficial for the US government's response? Thank you. So do I. and I implore the Trump administration to allow this project to continue and make sure our our embassy is adequately Thank you very much. I'd like to recognize Mr. Hzena.
▶ 1:27:15Uh thank you, Mr. Chairman, and uh I appreciate you holding this very important hearing and and this is actually something that we had done previously or you had uh you had led and uh good to see uh some of you folks again here. Um and I specifically I have a a quick question at the front end of both the bishop and ms ongo correct. Um has Nigeria always been this violent?
▶ 1:27:46Yes. not this level of violence because this is almost like like an open war declared on some parts of Nigeria and then it is multi-dimensional from Boo Haram to Bandis. Bokoh Haram is in the northeast.
▶ 1:28:04The the bandites are in the in in the in the in the in the in the northwest and then the flying terrace are in the north central which is Middlebbert and the attacks are simultaneously carried out in places whereby light scare of violence is being experienced and the worning part of it the government is very very inactive. Honogu, yeah, you were talking about the history of violence. Has it always been as violent as we're seeing today? Yes.
▶ 1:28:32As I say, it's important to understand the nature of violence. As I mentioned in my remarks, this year basically marks 26 years of uninterrupted civilian rule, which means there was a transition in 1999 from military rule going back all the way to Nigeria's independence. every republic dating back to the first republic, we've always seen some forms of violence where have often been shaped around identity lines, religion or background.
▶ 1:28:59And as time has gone on, it has often taken on a different shape or form of its own. So it's important to understand that the violence is interconnected. Things may look different, but they are connected by the same underlying issue. What I'm trying to understand though is has has Nigeria always been this violent and maybe a slightly different form in your opinion. It has there has always been an element of violence. Sure. And there's been an element. Well, you're from JS.
▶ 1:29:28Uh and I'm familiar with JS. Uh I've had family members who have traveled to JS and Logos. uh because uh the the church denomination I happen to be a member of, I'm sure you're familiar with, which is the the Christian Reformed Church, uh the Christian Reformed Church based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, actually has more members in Nigeria than they do in all of North America. It is basically an African church headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan of all things.
▶ 1:29:56And I I will tell you that uh that the people that I have talked to who have been either on the mission field there or who have lived there or who have been a part of that they believe that there has been an uptick in in in violence and it and that the country wasn't it may have been percolating in a different way but there was not this outright violence.
▶ 1:30:18Many of them tell me that they believe that it has been the rise of radical Islam and jihadism that has really brought that to the surface and that that whether you're saying that's a cultural thing or whether it's a religious thing uh the uh there I I I think we can't we can't ignore the fact that that radical jihadists have taken on a very very different tactic Let's put it that way
▶ 1:30:48if you want to call violence a tactic. uh but uh that that is why I think this drives many of us to say okay what is happening here what has changed and and we know that there's violence throughout Africa you know whether it's in South Sudan whether it's in other places that that we are seeing oftent times if right now in uh the the Rwanda and the uh in the Congo that conflict that is there right now there is a lot of mix to it but I
▶ 1:31:18think specifically when it comes in Nigeria um that there has been some sort of change. Yeah. And if if if I may just respond very quickly to that, while my family's from the southern part of Nigeria, I grew up in the middle belt of Nigeria and obviously understanding the dynamics of the middle belt, indigen versus non-indigen, I was also part and parcel face looking at how things have evolved over time.
▶ 1:31:44So even while we talk about Boohh Haram today or the recently identified new terror group Lucarawa that was just mentioned in November, it also dates all the way back to the 1980s where there were groups like the Metina movement and others. So the point time that was that was regarding moving of energy and those kinds of things. Correct. Yeah.
▶ 1:32:04And so the point I was making or the point that I'm making is that the environment, the weakness of governance allows groups like these, allows ideologies like these to thrive and the weakness of governance is at the root of these concerns because data shows us that Nigerians value their unity. Nigerians value their diversity. Very recent data shows us that it's not about religion or ethnicity, but the weaknesses in government.
▶ 1:32:32I think we're we're we're on parallel tracks. We may not have our tracks cross exactly, but we're on parallel tracks. I think there is a weakness of government that is that is that is clear on that. But I do I do want to move on uh Mr. Chairman the talked about and in fact Miss Onogu uh referenced the December 2023 Christmas Eve killings. Um I uh I led a letter to the State Department uh Mr.
▶ 1:32:59chairman that included some folks who were on on the committee uh expressing concern to uh Secretary Blinken and their decision in 2023 to to not designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern. Um, in May, uh, May one of 2024, I received a three-page letter back, uh, from the assistant secretary, um, where, uh, where the word Christian appeared once.
▶ 1:33:29It was alongside Islam uh, in in the response. And I'd like to uh, to submit that for the record if uh, with objections ordered. Yeah. My so my basically my calls to the state department went really unanswered and frankly I think the state department employed u shall we say active avoidance uh on the issue and I was given inadequate responses uh that failed to address the concerns that many of us had.
▶ 1:33:56Um, and uh, that uh, I think is part of the problem with the last administration and among their staff was an overt refusal to acknowledge that Christians specifically uh, were being targeted. They would have no problem identifying others who had been targeted, rightfully so, other ethnic minorities, but when it specifically came to Christians, uh, it wasn't politically a good time for them to talk about it. And and that's that's a huge problem.
▶ 1:34:24Uh and the fact remains that 90% of global total Christian deaths uh occur on the African continent and that's according to open door some somebody that you had referenced earlier.
▶ 1:34:37Um, so I want to ask all the witnesses, uh, do you believe that the Tanubu administration has intentionally not taken the required actions to ensure the safety and security of of we could we could broaden it out for all all ethnic minorities, but let's specifically address Christians as well throughout the country. And the Shane, yes, thank you, Congressman, for your questions and your comments.
▶ 1:35:04And um just to address the uh terror uh issue or the violence issue that you raised um Nigeria did get worse on the um global index for terrorism over the past year.
▶ 1:35:18So it's quantitative that it is intensifying and the fani for the last 20 years have been uh being armed with automatic weapons um by uh according to scholars uh Nigerian scholars by um cattle breeders who hire them and so this is contributing to the uptick in violence as well. Um and you're what? I've forgotten your question now.
▶ 1:35:48Oh, just just whether the Tanubu administration is sort of intentionally are they doing what is really required to to ensure safety of their citizens. Yeah. um you know on on on intent and what they intend to do. Um I've tried to bring out uh prominent voices in my testimony and my written testimony to um who believe that this is deliberate on the part of the government.
▶ 1:36:14There are others who feel that the government is just lax but some feel that the government is complicit. And I I I saw that frankly in the uh Catholic bishop's letter that was released recently um that was referred to by me and the bishop um about uh the fact that uh Islamic law of closing down or at least somebody's interpretation of Islamic law
▶ 1:36:44of closing down all schools in uh some of the 12 northern states um to observe forcibly observe Ramadan is um part of the bishop's alarm at this is a sort of creeping introduction of Islam is Islam as the uh rule law of the land not only in those 12 northern states but throughout the country.
▶ 1:37:09So, I've heard that from a number of prominent voices, whether Catholic bishops or, um, others, uh, civic leaders, um, and, um, even governors of some of the southern states, uh, central states. I'm going to skip over, if you don't mind, Mr. Mkins, to the bishop, and just what what is is your take on the Tanubu administration? Are they are they actively trying to protect that or are they allowing it and turning a blind eye?
▶ 1:37:37I think uh to my own opinion the government certainly has good intention but there's no implementation and I think it's simply because they want to be politically correct not to offend any particular group of persons and so that's why the inactivity is taking place and people are feeling embodened to continue to do what is going on and the failure of the the security forces to apprehend those who are involved is a clear sign that they don't just everybody said their people are dying
▶ 1:38:07So if the government wants to take action, they will do. Um and I you've been very generous, Mr. Chairman. Uh I I do also want to hit on one other thing. I the um you know, this this hearing is specifically about Nigeria. Uh but uh given the the expertise and the the people that we have, uh love to hear a little broader view.
▶ 1:38:34And uh I had the opportunity to recently sit down with uh Bishop Dennis Enthumbbe uh of uh who is the African director of uh Israel Allies Foundation. We talked at length about the systematic persecutions of Christians and Jews that are are happening throughout the continent and and the rise in anti-semitism there. And Mr.
▶ 1:38:55Chairman, I'd like for the record, I'd also like to uh to uh uh post uh the chairman, I'm sorry, the uh bishop's uh report on accounts of widespread violence and destruction of churches and other religious sites that uh that have been happening. So, I'd like to submit that for the record here. And in fact, the bishop is uh here with us today uh in the back and and I applaud him and in his work uh as well.
▶ 1:39:21But I getting back to the specifically Nigeria um we we have seen a rise throughout the African continent. We're talking specifically though about the tools that we have in Congress and I'm curious from each one of the uh the witnesses is the CPC this this designation is that necessary and is it warranted for Nigeria right now or is this some sort of knee-jerk reaction?
▶ 1:39:52Well, I I think it's warranted. We can't fudge the facts. We We need the truth to come out. This is uh one of the worst situations in the world, as you know, for for Christians. And um it it the law is clear if the government engages in or tolerates egregious violations of religious freedom, which um the the government certainly is regarding regardless of whether it's it's deliberate or not uh on their part.
▶ 1:40:21Um I think that we must do that and um it's does put pressure. It it's it's uh governments do not like to be on the short list of the world's worst persecutors. Um it is a platform for beginning to reassess American policy on how we deal with this partnership.
▶ 1:40:44Uh that it's that's increasingly uncomfortable and untenable as they become more uh terroridden and um and their religious communities are attacked relentlessly without with impunity. So, yes, I'll put you down as a yes. Put me down as a yes. And I don't and I don't I don't want to necessarily have to go back over as to why it was removed. My our our job here today is that is does this administration need to reapply the CPC? Mr. Perkins, uh I would say yes.
▶ 1:41:13If I can provide some context, during my time as chairman of us, we didn't randomly give out CPC as, you know, labels that we just wanted to go after a particular country. In fact, during my time, we worked to take countries off our watch list. That is the goal. That is the goal. This is a tool. Those relations. This is a tool. We we used it. We actually took Sudan off the list. I traveled to Sudan. Unfortunately, things have changed there in the last few years. Uh but we were very hopeful and this CPC status was a tool.
▶ 1:41:42They wanted to get it off so that they could have access to international banking. They didn't want to be on that list. Uh it worked. Uh we worked to to get Egypt. I met with President Elsisi multiple times to get them off the watch list and they were making great progress. It it's kind of amazing if you look at some of the lists of countries like Egypt that have been on this uh and the fact that Nigeria and the current situation isn't seems a little stunning. It does.
▶ 1:42:08That's why I do think it needs to be on the list and utilized as a tool to address both the religious freedom issue and the underlying issues. I've taken way too much time, but Bishop Quickley and and Miss Onugu, do do you believe Nigeria should be on this on this? My response would be Thank you. But my response would be yes. One, because CPC designation is not punitive. That is one.
▶ 1:42:34It's corrective so that you'll be able to see not punitive to the citizens specifically unlike a lot of other sanctions. Exactly. It's not punitive. just to be corrective so that you'll be able to realign yourself with the global practice like human rights abuse violations. We need to need to know and you have to because Nigeria is not an you can't say it just because it's a kind of kind of domestic affair.
▶ 1:42:55Domestic affair involves people's lives they're going so the world cannot watch that countries are just citizens are just being killed. I would think if you do this that helps to bring the financiers of these programs or these violations to book first the amunition these terrorists or fanist or carry along is not manufactured in Nigeria it's bought somewhere those local boys in the bush don't have money to buy those ammunition who supplies them
▶ 1:43:26who equips them so if this is done certainly there'll be a search light and we know who who is involved so for me yes Okay, thank you for that question. Um, making a designation is what you've uh said is beyond my institutional purview. What I provide is more policy focused non nonpartisan biased research ensuring that the facts um speak for itself. I'll leave that to the committee to make uh the designation.
▶ 1:43:52But as we look at the research in Nigeria and on Nigeria, it is important that we understand that Nigeria is not your typical nation state. This is a state that is where identities are formed along lines of ethnicity, religion and so at the end of the day those that may be maybe trying to hold accountable may not actually see themselves as accountable to the citizens. So this is why I say it's important for us to take a look at the research, take a look at the data to make informed decisions.
▶ 1:44:22Thank you. So is that an official pass? No, no, not not an opinion as to whether we ought to have the CPC. As I said, it's beyond my institutional purview. I I would I would argue, Mr. Chairman, that's it's a policy dis debate and discussion that we are having, but uh with that, I've taken a lot of time, and I appreciate that to my colleagues as well. I yield back. You I'd like to now recognize Miss Jipal. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 1:44:46um having lived and worked all over the world uh including across the African continent um on international health and development I think it's very important that we think about how we use all the tools in the toolbox and uh I have appreciated you's work on protecting all religious freedom and calling out countries including my birth country of India for um issues around persecution of Christians and and Muslims Um, but I think the
▶ 1:45:16central question here goes to Miss Ona's um, point about weakness of government. I think that's the phrase you used and I think it really it really is critical because I it's not that I don't agree with Mr. Perkins that we should address religious freedom. I do think we should. But I think at the core when you look at this issue, it is the weakness of government that allows extremism of any religion to thrive.
▶ 1:45:44And so that's why I think that the um the the way in which USID has now been stripped and paused, all of the funding has been paused, 83% of funding for USAD is currently been stopped. is a problem because many of those projects were actually trying to address the underlying root causes that I think perhaps there's some agreement on the panel that um that we should be addressing.
▶ 1:46:15And so the New York Times recently reported a list of words and terms that the Trump administration has banned or restricted from government communications. And those included things like cultural differences, community diversity, discrimination, prejudice, victim, and even women makes it very hard to think about nuanced programs that address those underlying causes.
▶ 1:46:40And so, Miss Onaboku, I want to ask you, how would banning projects that utilize those terms affect the US's ability to accurately describe and respond to violence in Nigeria? So, thank you for the question.
▶ 1:46:58Working in complex environments like Nigeria and elsewhere requires um being able to take into account the total picture of uh occurrences in different parts of the country. The way we define issues as peace and violence may seem different in different communities and different different commun across different communities um in Nigeria.
▶ 1:47:21So it would be so taking it would be it would be necessary to take into account the complexity and diversity of Nigeria towards trying to ensure we can deise sustainable uh solutions to addressing root causes of violence there. In fact, I use diversity in my opening statement but that I guess would tag it as a project that's not worthwhile. Um, I want to specifically focus on a State Department project in northeastern Nigeria called Nigerian Youth Care.
▶ 1:47:51This program has been suspended by the Trump administration. It provided Nigerian youth with mentorship and training on how to bridge religious divides and it launched initiatives that were meant to reduce hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric on social media. Could you explain, Miss Onaboku, how programs that focus on interreligious dialogue can actually assist in reducing the occurrence of religious violence and extremism? Thank you.
▶ 1:48:21as uh to a point about youth youth being making up uh 70% of the population in Nigeria is below the age of 35 and I think as has been referenced by others on this panel too as well the importance of engaging youth I think in complex environments like Nigeria where identities are formed or identities are formed around ethnicity or religion and especially in com in communities where we have seen protracted conflicts that have taken on a different life of their
▶ 1:48:51own time after time again as I mentioned in the case of Plateau State we've seen conflicts going on for over 20 years is important to bring voices together to bring people together to bring communities together to be able to identify what the problems are and find ways to work through them together so being able to uh push uh inter interreligious dialogue or interfaith dialogue um and some of them which I've witnessed on the ground is a is a good example of work that could be
▶ 1:49:21done to bridge divides, bridge gaps uh in Nigeria. In fact, data actually shows that in Nigeria, as in some other countries too as well on the continent, but in Nigeria in specifically, religious leaders actually are really trusted by their um communities. And we've seen several examples of interfaith mediation efforts across Nigeria that have been really successful. Well, that leads me to another project um around good governance.
▶ 1:49:52The International Republican Institute formerly funded a project in Nigeria to educate political party leaders on good governance strategies and bringing traditionally politically marginalized groups in Nigeria including women, young people, religious minorities into the political process. That's another project that this administration has ended.
▶ 1:50:13What's the importance of representative democracy in Nigeria and the value of representation for traditionally marginalized groups including religious minorities? I'll start with you, but uh I'm interested in your perspective on this as well, Mr. Perkins. Thank you. So, as I mentioned in my remarks, elections and political appointments are two important areas where we see the interplay between religion and politics.
▶ 1:50:39where we've seen time and time again that politicians romanticize Nigeria's unity but basically when it comes to elections they just use it to instigate and galvanize votes as I mentioned this year 2025 is a critical year for elections in Nigeria the chair of Nigeria's independent national election commission his term runs out in December of this year if we go back to 2023 and we see how divisive those elections were important to start laying the groundwork now to ensure that political actors are
▶ 1:51:09not um in a position to utilize religion or utilize ethnicity to forement violence and to Ghana votes. We're already seeing examples of what's happening with the bi-elections that happened in 2024. So, it's really important to start as the country as Nigeria starts thinking about sort of the makeup of the the leadership what the new leadership of Nigeria's um independent uh election commission could look like.
▶ 1:51:38This is an opportunity to start engaging and identifying key holders in the polit key stakeholders in the political space um and um in civil society as well to work together towards ensuring that citizens that uh the basically the the faith of citizens is restored in the electoral process. Thank you. And Mr.
▶ 1:52:02Perkins, as I said, I've I've utilized uh some of your work and you's work in other regions because I think it is important for us to be consistent in allowing for all religious freedom, not just for some.
▶ 1:52:17And so your views on how religious freedom and governance, good governance and democracy interact and why it's important to ensure that we really are protecting and in a place like Nigeria where you have a very divided population religiously um and you need to pay attention to all religious freedom. How would you uh how would you speak to the importance of that? Well, thank you for that question and I appreciate your interest in this and you've correctly analyzed it.
▶ 1:52:47I did a lot of interfaith work in the Middle East, sitting down with the moms, sitting down with uh evangelicals in places where they were the a very extreme minority. Here in Nigeria, it's a pretty much divided country equally. I think it goes back to what has been identified here is the the govern the governance of the the country and the will of the current administration. Now, we could point to a lot of programs.
▶ 1:53:14I bet if you and I sat down and had a cup of coffee, we would identify probably a number of programs that we would agree with. Probably wouldn't agree on everything, but we would agree on some things. We've been doing those programs for decades uh in Nigeria and we've not seen the positive outcomes.
▶ 1:53:30And so when we design moved to see the state department designate in 2020 this country as a country of particular concern, it was to get the attention of the governor the governor uh government of the the country so that we might get them to be willfully engaged like we've seen in other countries. So I I think this is really not a question about are some of these pro projects viable and should they be in place. I think we would all agree that yes, there are some. Well, not everyone agrees, unfortunately.
▶ 1:54:01I mean, 83% of these projects have been cut and I understand that. The question is, do you take a hatchet to something or do you take a scalpel to Well, I think we're in a situation we got to do something different because the outcomes have not changed. And I think this taking this approach as we're focused on today, declaring this designation as a country of particular concern hopefully would get the government's attention so that we can have this collaboration to address the underlying issues that has allowed religion to be utilized as a
▶ 1:54:31weapon of division. Well, I agree with you that religion is utilized as a weapon too often. Um, and there are extremists in all religions. I've seen that. you know, my birth country of India has we're I'm proud that we've had so many religions living side by side. Um, and my home state of Carerala is the is the place where we have the most Christians in the in the country.
▶ 1:54:53And so I um I understand the importance of that, but I again go back to your very important point about um about all of the pieces that are essential here. And I hope that as we continue this dialogue, we think about what it does when you just destroy everything all at once. The hole that is left in the countries that we have been providing critical aid to is enormous.
▶ 1:55:20And we know that extremists go to fill any hole that is there. And so I would just argue that actually it's a very important part of how the United States should be engaging with Nigeria and with countries around the world to not eliminate and create huge holes in humanitarian assistance and in governance and democracy projects in all of these things because when you do you are creating um another opportunity for chaos to be exploited. With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back. Very much.
▶ 1:55:50I recognize Mr. Baird. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and uh thank you for holding this uh very informative meeting. I really appreciate uh the witnesses being here, but I want to do this. During the Trump administration, Nigeria was rightfully on placed on this special watch list and eventually was designated as a country of particular concern.
▶ 1:56:21CPC we've been talking about. I was disappointed by the Biden administration's decision to not designate Nigeria as a CPC in the period of 20 through 24 with no real reason and that was despite uh consistent recommendations from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom to maintain that designation.
▶ 1:56:42So as a second Trump administration continues its work, the committee has a unique opportunity to re-evaluate the United States policy toward Nigeria uh in a manner that bolster stability and religious freedom. So my question uh goes to Miss Sheay and Mr. Perkins.
▶ 1:57:01So a country that is designated and cited as CPC carries with it a suite of varying s sanctions that the president can levy on those countries. So how would these potential punishments with the president which the president can wave uh for national security reasons how would that prepare Nigerian government to make more systematic action to prevent religious activated violence?
▶ 1:57:33Uh, thank you for your question. I um will just give one quick answer and then I'll turn it over to Mr. Perkins who has um a whole roster of recommendations that they developed during his term in on userf. Um you know the Nigeria is a rich country. It's it's one of the largest economies if not the largest economy in Africa. So um it has it's rich in natural resources.
▶ 1:58:00It's it's rich in human resources and um uh when Nigerians come to our country, they do extremely well. In fact, they're one of the most successful mig immigrant groups in the United Um they need law and order. They need uh a government with the political will to apply the law and to hold people accountable as we all acknowledged today.
▶ 1:58:28Um, and to do that, I think that they're going to need some pressure, some uh sanctions on particular uh officials uh to deny them visas and uh banking accounts and uh financial opportunities here. So, I recommend um and and and Chairman Smith was was the pioneer of this in his u legislation that he got through.
▶ 1:58:54So I think we have to make good use of that and um uh that the Magnitki uh sanctions the global Magnitzky act and so I'll stop there Mr. Well as has as has been discussed already it allows for both surgical going after certain individuals as Nina was just talking about uh to with sanctions.
▶ 1:59:21It would also affect a foreign aid which I believe will be coming back in different forms and fashions that it will uh it will get their attention and put them on a particular path of of having to give an account. It will affect programs. We've been talking about programs how how necessary those programs are, but it affects that it affects businesses. It depends on how u far the president the administration will want to go.
▶ 1:59:48Unfortunately, what we've seen in the past is that these sanctions, when we have a CPC status, they've been waved, as you made reference to in your comments. Uh I would encourage the administration not to wave uh these sanctions, but to apply them until the c until Nigeria wants to come to terms to address the underlying issues that led to the CPC status. Uh one other question in that regard.
▶ 2:00:16You know, sometimes we send this assistance but it ends up being diverted off because of the situation in the country. And so I think it's important that we have governance as we've been talking about in this session uh in order and you mentioned that about governments uh in order to make sure that the the programs are administered properly. So I agree with that. So I thank both of you. Uh so Miss uh Anog Ou do you have any questions or any No concerns.
▶ 2:00:51I thank you and I yield back. Mr. Jackson, thank you much uh chairman and honored to be with you. Thank each and every one of you for participating today in your um outstanding comments. Um, first of all, I'd like to acknowledge, are there a question in general? Are there any Muslims in the panel present today? Gentlemen, yield. I'll tell you why I didn't do it. Yes, sir.
▶ 2:01:20If we had a Muslim here, when he or she went back, they might be killed. I met with many Muslim imams in Nigeria on several trips. Every time I was told that if they speak out, they're marked and they will be visited. Now, the Christians are in a similar but not exactly quid proquo what's going to happen. That's why we're very worried about the bishop. Uh but that's why there's nobody here. But I, you know, just so you know, I speak out for the Muslims as well.
▶ 2:01:49Uh but here, we did not want to have that situation u because we thought of it. We thought of it very seriously. Okay. Thank you so much, chairman. I just wanted the record to reflect that. um question would probably is in the um in the dismantling of the US aid, the Trump administration recently terminated uh USAD program called partner uh that supported peaceuilding efforts in northern and north central Nigeria.
▶ 2:02:19The $2 million project helped to strengthen the country's early warning and security response systems and provide training for local leaders, including religious leaders on conflict mitigation and conflict resolution. This project and others like it uh help provide local leaders with the mechanisms to alert law enforcement to possible conflicts before they happen.
▶ 2:02:47partner also helped to facilitate communications between farmer and herder community leaders often individuals from different religious backgrounds in an attempt to bridge the gap between the two groups. Uh Mr. Nogu uh what are some of these early warning signs of conflict that you've Thank you for your question.
▶ 2:03:11Um I think going back to my initial remarks, security is at the center of addressing some a lot of these concerns that we see um in Nigeria. While several communities have been able to put in place early warning uh signals based on how they communicate in their communities, being able to know who is a new person that comes into the community or if they see things changing, they're able to track changes in their communities as well.
▶ 2:03:39The concern has often been that sometimes response is lacking and response is lacking because of the way Nigeria's security structure niger security architecture is set up. As I mentioned there have been several attempts at police reform in Nigeria. This is an area where the the government needs to strengthen its approach.
▶ 2:04:01We have seen even from open doors themselves have also mentioned that the Nigerian government under Tinubu has been making some attempts to address uh the security concerns to ensure that they're able to bolster the response mechanisms. As I mentioned, securities are pretty strong at identifying where the problem areas are, where the gaps are.
▶ 2:04:24um they should continue to be supported to ensure they build resilient structures in their communities to withstand any sort of violence or intrusion that might come in. But on the security side on bolstering and strengthening the security architecture, these are areas uh where we need to uh focus on to ensure that early response also matches the early warning signals that are coming from communities. Thank you so much. And this is a question open to all.
▶ 2:04:52When we talk about security and security drivers, what would you say is the leading cause of the security or the insecurity drivers? So Nigeria is really faced across every region of the country is facing some form of insecurity or the other. There are different forms of conflict all of them overlapping in some ways or the other and all protracted over time. So they all take on a different shape or form of their own. ity.
▶ 2:05:20The underlying issue there is a lack of governance and also just the the weaknesses in holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. That is the underlying um issue there. Okay. U would you like to add that Mr. Perkins? I I agree. And what we when we're talking about the issue of governance, it's really kind of the hub which the spokes are the programs. And without the hub, the programs don't really work.
▶ 2:05:50They'll collapse. And I'm I'm familiar with some of those programs. One, the one that you actually mentioned. There's also a lot of non-governmental organizations that are working to facilitate communication between uh various faith groups, not just in Nigeria, but around the world. But when you have a lack of response, as the bishop testified, there was a two-week notice given, but no response from the government.
▶ 2:06:15And so until we get that the attention of the hub and we get Nigeria's government agreeing that we've got to they've got to reform and provide protection and rights for all their people. I I I don't think our programs work. Well, let me ask you one other question generally to the panel. Will CPC increase or decrease food security amongst the Nigerians?
▶ 2:06:41Well, I will say from history what we have found is that the CPC status gets the attention of the government and the question is will it increase or decrease? Well, I I think longterm it'll it'll increase because it will deal with the underlying issues which have created instability, insecurity in the country. How about in the short term? We have a real risk in the short term just because of present circumstances.
▶ 2:07:10As we've talked about the bread belt or the bread basket of the country is being the farmers are being displaced. So we have a real issue and this is why this is urgent is because if we don't address it now and you see the migration coming out of Nigeria as has been testified to today the surrounding countries can't handle it. You will have a serious shortage of food, shelter and security. Okay. Thank you. I'm very familiar with the region and the insecurity on the northern borders.
▶ 2:07:40Uh probably the last part I would leave to that is we first start with the demographics and I would assume most of us are Christians that are in here and when you have children even scripturally the Bible has a mandate on us feeding the children. I don't think many of the children in Nigeria that ideologically are drawn.
▶ 2:08:01If you look at more than half the population, the um the 110 million people that are under the age of 18 years of age are not that ideologically driven. And I looked up a number that yesterday I found probably pretty astounding that 41% of the population of Nigerians are under the age of 15.
▶ 2:08:2941% of the population is under the age of 15 and I think that uh the CPC would uh enhance more insecurity for food. I think a uh it's very important that you feed children and out of that you can gain their attention. Even we know the scriptures of Jesus having had the uh lunch and uh fed the multitude he brought those children in. He fed them and asked them to come forth.
▶ 2:08:59Mich I I agree that um food and medicine um need to continue in our foreign assistance programs uh for Nigeria. Um, I think that we also need to tackle the underlying uh issues of uh terror and violence so that people can go back to farming because there's no der of arable Um and um uh so I I I do think that
▶ 2:09:30uh giving hope, giving sustaining the people during this this period is important, but it's also important to um correct the problem because this is a man-made problem um of of uh extremism, of violence, of of AKs being handed out um and uh it's it's outrageous. just that the government doesn't um take back the land that's been taken and give it back to their proper owners.
▶ 2:10:01It's uh that's no way to run a country. So um the beauty of CPC is that it it has sanctions that are surgical that can target particular people, not the entire country. It u um I I wouldn't recommend CPC to have a sanction that would cut off food or medical aid. Are there any dangers to using CPC? Any downside? I don't see any downside. I I see uh you know it's like a terrorism index.
▶ 2:10:30You need to have a a a factual analysis um on what are the problems of the country to solve them. And if we only see climate change, which is a problem, but if that's the sole uh rationale, and that's what the UNHCR seems to think um based on its writings on its website, um the Mimi case that I gave in my testimony, they concluded was the result of of of climate
▶ 2:11:01change only. They ignored the religious identities involved and um the the intent and motives of the person people who were attacking Mimi and her family. So um that that climate change is a problem. There are no short-term solutions to that. There is a short-term solution to uh radicalization and and violence and criminality. It's um it's uh police work. Okay.
▶ 2:11:30Um Mr. Chairman, in closing, a population that's uh under 30, that's 70% I think that our nation will be best served in trying to um get this young nation that is now showing its maturity and forming a democracy that's still extremely fragile that has a lot of conflict borders on the north that I think um creating more hardship on such a young population and particularly on children that under the age
▶ 2:12:00of I like food as a tool more than sanctions and um punitive measures. I think it's theologically sound and I've not heard that being expressed. Mr. Chairman, I yield back. Thank you. I want just yield myself a couple of minutes and then I'll go to my my colleague. Um just for the record, um and I thank you for your concern for food. I've written two laws. Global Food Security Act, um, which is our law.
▶ 2:12:32Um, the URFA bill, when we did it back in 1998, we made sure that humanitarian assistance was exempted. The idea of of taking away food security, and your point was well taken, uh, would be counterproductive.
▶ 2:12:46I mean one of the hallmarks of the of the legislation on global food security act was to emphasize the first thousand days of life from conception to the second birthday that if mother and baby get the food folic acid all kinds of supplementation and we do have a very good program as you know as does the UN on on those things food security u you get healthier kids and and one of the focuses that we've had in Nigeria and elsewhere but especially in Nigeria is And
▶ 2:13:16when you have that first thousand days fully and the women get the supplementation, good solid nutrition, baby and mother thrive. So great point. Uh the good news is that in writing the legislation, we want to make sure that that was not malaffected um in any country including Nigeria.
▶ 2:13:36And I would just add that um um where all of these supplementations have got happened including places like Honduras which has another problem with stunting um it doesn't go away but it greatly mitigates it. So thank you for your point. Good.
▶ 2:13:52I mean, if the food is just so essential and um and and the beauty of the URA bill is that it does provide, you know, this two-step process just I think you all know this, but the first one is the designation, getting it right in calling out an egregious violator in terms of what they were doing or what they're tolerating by not answering the call and the bishop uh and anyone else says to the police, "Please come.
▶ 2:14:17we've got a, you know, motorcycles here, uh, and they're killing people and they don't show up and they never show up and then there's no accountability, there's no investigation, there's no prosecution. I mean, that is just absolutely egregious. So, designating the country as a CPC gets them on the record that we we've taken note, you violated our law, uh, and we're going to take action. Now, the next point is the action phase, and that is purely up to the administration, no matter who's in the White House. Uh and and as as Mr.
▶ 2:14:47Perkins indicated, there has been a lack of part two since 1998. We find the exact same thing on trafficking. I wrote our trafficking laws, the Trafficking Victim Protection Act. I'm the prime author of it. Um it has the same double-edged. You start off by designate a country, be honest and accurate if they have a a problem with sex and labor trafficking, and then part two is the enforcement of sanctions that are prescribed in the law. So, u I'm all, you know, we're on the same page.
▶ 2:15:15We've got to make sure that food security is is is available um and people are helped by it. So, thank you for that. Appreciate that very much. Um I would like to now recognize Mr. Ozki for such time as he may consume. Thank you all very much. Uh Representative Oeski from uh Baltimore. I really appreciate uh you, Chairman Smith, our ranking member. Uh, and I want to thank all of our witnesses who I know, many of whom have traveled a great distance. I really appreciate you being here.
▶ 2:15:44Uh, thanks to modern technology. I'm glad that I was able to listen in through the entirety of today's um, hearing. Um, even as I dealt with traffic myself in my travels today. Um, I'm going to start by saying I, um, as someone of of of deep faith, like many of my colleagues here, uh, I am deeply concerned about both religious freedoms and violence. um religious violence but also violence of all types.
▶ 2:16:08Uh what we know that we know that what is happening in Nigeria demands that we all work together uh in response. I think we can agree that given the the scale the duration of the violence given the importance of Nigeria um as a country both to Africa but also to the world I think it really demands that we are open to thinking differently about our historical responses.
▶ 2:16:33Uh but I think that we need to think holistically about that and maybe that means not just looking at what our traditional tools have been. I think we can start and I would encourage uh this administration, the Trump administration to openly call out the actions of the government and their failure to take action. I I saw all the heads nodding around the conversation around accountability across the board to a person.
▶ 2:16:59Uh, I think we could send our secretary of state to go talk to the government to raise these concerns, to lift up these American voices. Um, and I think that we can then indicate that additional action might be forthcoming. I think what's troubling, as some of my colleagues have raised, however, though, is that even as we're contemplating uh sanctions and actions, we are seeing um a retreat of our investment and our involvement in the country.
▶ 2:17:26Uh a lot of conversations already happened around USA ID, so I won't retread those, Mr. Chairman. Uh but I I do want to dig in a little bit around the issue of education, which is one of those issues that's deeply personal to me as a former educator, and it's also one of those places that have not been exempted um from the funding freeze and the retractment that we're seeing. I see the bishop nodding and I actually wanted to direct one of my questions to you bishop because as my colleague representative Jackson mentioned there are so many young people in this country.
▶ 2:17:56They are the future of of the country and education I think is so foundational to the success of uh Nigeria but also to combating this religious um persecution, the religious violence that we're seeing. Um, and so, you know, we know, for example, that Boo Haram and other terrorist organizations have targeted schools to undermine education across the country. An estimated 2,000 Christian schools were attacked in Nigeria between 2009 2021.
▶ 2:18:24Hundreds of teachers have been deliberately killed with thousands more forced to flee. Uh we know that uh also since 2014 the US has invested in our primary education system in Nigeria helping 2.9 million students improve their literacy um and training uh in 21,595 teachers and out of school youth programs. We've reached almost more than half a million children and in affected conflict regions.
▶ 2:18:51Again, we know that proper education and effective education is a key to drive out violent extremism. Uh again, the Trump administration canled our education programs in Nigeria. So, um I would say Bishop, if you could just speak a little bit about how we can keep our our children safe and our educators safe um and the impact of these programs.
▶ 2:19:13And I just also open it up to u anyone else on the panel who might want to talk a little bit about the importance of investing in education to uh tackle some of these issues as Thank you very much uh for this for your intervention but I think also just like you said education is the key to the human development and education for us is not just academic uh excellence or pursuance but the holistic approach to the person's life
▶ 2:19:44and it's actually what this crisis of violence have turned Nigeria for the past two decades is what we can't quantify in villages where schools have been closed down, bombed and people have left. These children are in the camps and actually they don't have any basic form of training or formation. And of course some of them survived looking at the their parents being killed.
▶ 2:20:10Maybe they were able to run young young young children age of 12 13 and then some seriously and of serious concern women are still giving birth in these camps and without education I'm not talking of health or dignity kids for the women and all that but this basically means you have some people who are about 18 years who have not really had any basic education in some of these camps and these states and of course it's to
▶ 2:20:40change their orientation or mentality. Some of them are already because we need to dradicalize them from some of these things that is going on in their minds. And if education is closed, I tell you that is like we are breeding another group of terrors and at the age of 25 they become old enough to handle whatever they want to and then nobody will stay.
▶ 2:21:00And what we do maybe on my local level as a bishop we had what we call education in emergency which actually working with the state government or so my own there are about 200 and something of these children though not a small not a primary school but secondary school in all my schools 250 something in my schools because this can give them burden uh burden education but I know what it means what about the younger ones who can't leave their families or leave their their their mothers
▶ 2:21:31We have talked severally with the government to to establish schools in these camps whereby some of these who are displaced are degree holders who can also take care of and the government paid them the stipens for them to keep and the government is not interested in it. But I tell you this is going to spare doom for a nation in this present age whereby we are that education we say is the key is becoming so difficult.
▶ 2:21:57We are getting back to the to the barbaric stage and that is what I think these perpetrators want to be and like you said if they are able to handle these perpetrator and bring them to boo through this no designation of CPC many people will be able to be held accountable for what is going on thereby there will be some fear instilled in them if we do this the government will come after you and the government is seriously minded and concerned I tell you these things will end and it's not just immediately
▶ 2:22:27Yes, not just the course of a short term but I tell you if the IDPS returned to their ancestral homes to be honest with you in the issue of three four years they wouldn't ask anybody for feeding 5 years ago they asking us for to feed them 10 years ago they're not looking for food from anybody because they are subsistent farmers taking care of their needs training their children because I'm a victim and I come from such a background my father my parents we were farmers and that way he trained us and we went to board school in 80s.
▶ 2:22:57So I see no reason why we should not bump in this age. This is happening and the government is keeping quiet. That's why we are applying to this because if this is not done, we are going to breed holy guns as a nation. So just with that, Mr. Chairman, I will recommit to work with you and and this subcommittee on any other uh actions we can work together on um to look at this differently.
▶ 2:23:21I appreciate the answer and just will I think reinforce uh my my earlier point that I hope to see this administration act in the meantime and also uh hope to work to find ways to not just reinstitute our funding for education but also I think this reinforces the point we should be doing more to help uh especially our young people whether it's vocational training so they can become substance farmers or to do more um to ensure that we have this lack of radical radicalization among our young people. I think it's so important that we catch people young. Mr.
▶ 2:23:50Perkins, looks like you wanted to mention something. I just wanted to You're absolutely right. Education is is a key element and that's why the radical Islamists have been targeting the schools. There's been 17 mass abductions in the last six years from schools. Over 1700 kids have been snatched out. And the reason for that number one is targeting girls to keep them from getting the education. So again, it's the underlying issue of security and the government performing its role.
▶ 2:24:23Yeah. No, and I know that that's true for Christian and Islam, those of in the schools alike. Um, and agree, but it's not an either or, right? We can do both. we can both hold uh governments accountable for uh taking action for perpetrators but also I think I just want to reinforce the point that I think we also need to do uh the other piece of this work as well. So thank you Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much.
▶ 2:24:48Just to conclude and I anything you'd like to add as we close uh I would like to recognize Pastor Emanuel Agabi who uh good friend u he we travel together a few times to Nigeria. He introduced me to the CAN, the Association of Christians Leaders. U and he also was able to arrange for me to meet with several of the parents of Chebacc girls.
▶ 2:25:12And that was moving beyond words to see how suffering how much suffering they were enduring. And so thank you pastor uh for your insights over many many years. Uh we're also joined by pastor Akila Ysef who's the regional overseer of the all house on the rock churches in northeast Nigeria. He's the president of cutting edge ministries network about 200 pastors in the middle bay middle belt region. So thank you to him for being here today.
▶ 2:25:41I deeply appreciate that. Um and um just to conclude again any final comments you might want to make. Uh I would note that the bishop's uh village was burnt yesterday. I mean it's like u it's everpresent uh the violence that's being endured by the Christians and to a lesser extent but no less significant by the Muslims uh who are pious and want to live out their faith.
▶ 2:26:05I remember meeting with one one in man Iman who told me um um and he spoke very highly of Christians and he said Bokaram is not us. uh it's not us, but we can't speak out. If we do, we're targeted. And so I uh another reason why we do not have a a Muslim cleric from Nigeria here today. Uh but if you wanted to u let me just also point out um the letter that came to Mr. Hzena.
▶ 2:26:33Um, you know, part of our frustration has been um um that the Nigerian government has not been successful and they even acknowledge it uh in a letter explaining why they did not uh redesate uh the country of particular concern to Nigeria and they said um the government has been working to find solutions to the problems but has been largely unsuccessful in addressing uh these threats. Um how hard have they really worked?
▶ 2:27:01I mean, you know, law enforcement is so basic to any functioning society and if it's if if the killers and the murderers and the rapists can operate with impunity, um that democracy is in dire threat and individual lives of believers are then put in in grave risk as well. Bishop, your point today in your testimony where you said militant fani herdsmen are terrorists. They steal and vandalize. They kill and boast about it.
▶ 2:27:28They kidnap and rape and they enjoy total impunity from the from the elected officials. None of them have been arrested and brought to justice. Uh that is the message we are bringing to the government that we are aware of it. Um and we're going to do everything we can to try to get a CPC designation uh immediately from this administration. What they do in terms of sanctioning is purely up to them. But hopefully there won't be a need because there will be a movement towards trying to address these unadressed needs.
▶ 2:27:56And it's not like a lot of us haven't been raising it for decades. I have you guys have Nina, you've been doing it forever. Um, so we we just and Tony, you as well. Um, you know, we're not impatient. It just has to happen. So any final remarks before we conclude?
▶ 2:28:14Uh, thank you very much once again for this my simple request which I know I don't know how best it's going to go but all the the the witnesses have been able to make it somehow to to work with the community and religious leaders for instance I would say in case of assistance in terms of funding if it's possible for the religious leaders in those places be able to put him
▶ 2:28:44I mean come to know what exactly is coming to the areas because we as religious leaders go to where government cannot go and most of these these people who are displaced eventually run back to the churches wherever that's only place they have safe safety humanly speaking not just that it's guaranteed but then safety seems that they looked after their needs and the basic things we can and we know If the government
▶ 2:29:15works, the army will protect itself back to their homes and in a very short while 5 10 years reasonably Nigeria will bounce back to his status. Thank you uh Chairman Smith again for convening this hearing and I hope that there will be future um opportunities for hearings on Nigeria and other countries across the African uh continent to be able to discuss US uh Africa relations.
▶ 2:29:42Just to restate a few points that I made about the importance of Nigeria which is one that several US administrations have often highlighted. um what happens in Nigeria also impacts the broader West African region and we are aware of the issues that are happening across West Africa on the question on security. Nigeria's security challenges are also impacted by what happens outside of the country as well.
▶ 2:30:08In 2018 2017 there was data that basically showed that a lot of the small arms that are present in Nigeria that there are about 50% of the small arms in the West African region are in Nigeria. Obviously they that might have grown as well. So there are overlapping security challenges and significant help that is needed to restructure and reform Nigeria's security architecture.
▶ 2:30:34I think at the end of the day we have to um examine and ask you know how labels and designations could work and if those actually address the root causes of the issues that we are trying to tackle in Nigeria.
▶ 2:30:49And I think for me leaving it on that on that point is the root causes of the comp of the conflicts that we see are complex and it's important that there is a holistic uh effort on the part of the US in partnership with Nigerian government and civil society actors to address the causes of these Well, thank you again to our distinguished witnesses.
▶ 2:31:15I do want to note that uh Samson Aguj who is here who is the charge for the Nigerian embassy. Thank you for joining us today. Uh I would also point out you know in terms of capability I remember being in Bosnia during the war there. I was in in Darur years later and I ran into a peacekeeper who was at both places. Where was he from? Nigeria. Totally committed to securing the peace. uh Major Ajumbo was his name.
▶ 2:31:45Uh and I I was so moved by had you know he was so committed uh to peace. So there's there's a capability there that needs to be recognized, realized and really led uh by those in authority and that's what's been lacking. You know, a failure to govern to quote one of our witnesses today. So thank you so much. I want to thank our witnesses for their valuable testimony and the members for their questions.
▶ 2:32:09The members of the subcommittee may have some additional questions for the witnesses and we will ask that you respond to them in writing. Pursuant to the committee rules, all members have five days to submit statements, questions, and extraneous materials for the record subject to the length limitations. Without objection, the committee stands adjourned. And thank you so very much. Thank you.