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U.S. Lawmaker Accuses Nigerian Government of Inaction Amid Deadly Religious Violence

In a sharp critique, U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga has condemned the Nigerian government for failing to protect its citizens from escalating religious violence, asserting that radical Islamists are killing Christians with impunity while authorities downplay the crisis.

The congressman, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, voiced his concerns during a recent hearing and in a televised interview, framing the violence as a dire threat not only to Christians but to all Nigerians.

A Personal and Political Stance

Huizenga's connection to Nigeria is both political and personal. As a member of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA)—a denomination with deep historical ties to Nigeria dating back to missionary work in the 1920s—he represents a community of roughly 400,000 members in the U.S. with about 500,000 fellow congregants in Nigeria. This link informs his advocacy, blending policy with faith-based concern.

He argues that radicalized groups are attacking churches and mosques, kidnapping and killing religious leaders and civilians while invoking Shari'a law as justification. "The religious violence against Christians and moderate Muslims is outrageous," Huizenga stated.

Calls for Concrete U.S. Action

Criticizing the Tinubu administration for not viewing the killings as a critical problem, the lawmaker is pushing for stronger international response. He is a co-sponsor of House Resolution 860, which commends the previous U.S. administration for designating Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern" and calls for two key actions:
*   Enacting sanctions against specific individuals and entities in Nigeria supporting the violence.
*   Setting verifiable conditions on any U.S. aid provided to Nigeria.

An Urgent Appeal to Avoid History's Mistakes

Huizenga concluded with a grave warning, drawing parallels to other humanitarian failures: "The United States was too late on Rwanda, too late on South Sudan; it is critical that we are not too late for Nigeria."

His statements amplify growing international scrutiny on Nigeria’s internal conflict and the pressure on its government to enhance protection for all citizens.
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