A high-level Nigerian government delegation is set to embark on a trip to the United States to engage with U.S. lawmakers and international partners over alleged Christian genocide claims.
It was gathered that the delegation, which will include cabinet members under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, federal lawmakers, as well as senior military and security agency heads, during the U.S trip, will address persistent claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria.
This diplomatic effort comes amid renewed calls by certain U.S. political figures to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged religious persecution, a designation the Nigerian government argued is based on false, misleading, and politically motivated narratives.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the addition of some top Senate officials to the delegation came after a resolution was adopted by the 10th Senate on a motion introduced by Senator Ali Ndume, who is a former Chief Whip of the Chamber.
Ndume’s motion called for “putting the record straight” and urging the United States to refrain from sanctioning the country over the purported genocide.
It was also gathered that the Nigerian delegation is expected to jet out of the country for Washington DC next week.
An insider source knowledgeable of the U.S trip has revealed that the delegation is compiling “comprehensive” data and presenting evidence to counter the statistics cited by vocal U.S. critics.
The delegation is said to highlight to the U.S government that both Christians and Muslims are victims of insecurity in the country.
According to the source, the primary goal of the Nigerian government delegation is to safeguard Nigeria’s global reputation and diplomatic standing, particularly with a key ally like the United States.
The source stated: “The Nigerian delegation is expected to push a ‘people-first’ approach in its communication, emphasizing the need for international partners to support holistic security and development solutions rather than being misled by simplistic, divisive framings of the conflict.
“The focus will be on sharing concrete progress in the fight against terrorism and ensuring justice for victims of violence, regardless of their religious identity, thus directly tackling the core allegation of a Christian genocide in Nigeria.”
Recall that in recent weeks, a wave of statements by U.S lawmakers and advocacy groups has placed Nigeria under intense international scrutiny.
U.S Senator Ted Cruz had levelled Christian genocide claims against Nigeria. The lawmaker also accused Nigeria of “mass murder” of Christians and introduced the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025” (S.2747), which would seek to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and impose sanctions on officials alleged to facilitate violence against Christians.
In response, the Nigerian Senate in early October rejected the narrative of Christian genocide, describing it as “false and dangerous”.
The Senate’s motion warned that Nigeria’s security challenges are multifaceted, driven by terrorism, banditry, communal land disputes, and herder-farmer conflicts, not by a state-sponsored initiative against a religious group.
Meanwhile, U.S lawmakers Anna Luna and Nancy Mace have joined the debate, maintaining that there is evidence of Christian genocide claims in Nigeria, urging the world to stand together in their defense.
“Christians are being hunted and slaughtered in Nigeria for their faith — and the world stays silent. If this were any other group, there’d be global outrage,” Luna stated on her Twitter handle.
In the same vein, Mace wrote: Defend Nigerian Christians. Romanian fans at the World Cup Qualifier said what some world leaders fear to confess: faith in Christ is worth defending. Islamic terrorists are killing believers for worshipping Christianity while the world is looking the other way.”
