The Nigerian Senate is considering sending a
delegation to the United States to engage directly with U.S. lawmakers over
what it described as misleading narratives about religious persecution and
insecurity in Nigeria.
The decision followed a motion raised by Senator
Ali Ndume (Borno South) during plenary, which sparked an extensive debate
on the international perception of Nigeria’s internal security challenges.
The motion came in response to recent discussions
in the U.S. Congress and calls by some advocacy groups to label Nigeria a “Country
of Particular Concern” over alleged religious persecution.
During the debate, several lawmakers voiced concern
that such narratives—though sometimes inspired by genuine humanitarian concern—misrepresent
Nigeria’s security situation and risk harming its global image, foreign
relations, and investment climate.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio suggested the
establishment of an ad hoc committee to visit the United States and
engage directly with members of Congress to clarify the country’s position.
“There are misconceptions that need to be corrected,”
Akpabio said. “We are dealing with a complex terrorist threat, and it’s
important that our counterparts in the U.S. understand that the violence
affects both Christians and Muslims.”
He further proposed that the matter be discussed in a closed-door
session and that a smaller, strategic delegation be appointed to
handle the international engagement discreetly.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South) emphasized
the need for knowledge-based counterterrorism strategies, adding that
the approved National Security Summit would help shape policies rooted
in Nigeria’s local realities rather than externally driven narratives.
The motion highlighted examples illustrating that terrorist
and bandit attacks in Nigeria are non-sectarian, citing incidents across
Plateau, Katsina, Zamfara, Borno, and Kaduna States where both Christian and
Muslim communities have suffered casualties.
For instance, the motion noted that in Plateau
State, attacks on predominantly Christian farming communities in July
2023 claimed more than 20 lives, while in Katsina and Zamfara States,
bandit raids on mainly Muslim villages in August 2023 resulted in dozens
of deaths. It also referenced Borno and Kaduna States, where terrorists
have attacked both churches and mosques indiscriminately.
Given the sensitivity of the issue, Senate Leader
Opeyemi Bamidele moved a motion to step down further deliberation to an executive
session to refine the Senate’s position and finalize the composition of
the proposed U.S. delegation.
The motion was seconded by Senator Abdul Ningi
(Bauchi Central) and was unanimously adopted by the Senate.
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