U.S. Congressman Bill Huizenga has urged President Donald Trump to take swift diplomatic action over what he described as escalating religious violence in Nigeria, warning that the situation bears disturbing similarities to the early stages of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Huizenga accused radical Islamist groups of systematically targeting Christians across parts of Nigeria, while alleging that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has failed to take decisive steps to curb the violence. He said the attacks now threaten national cohesion and fundamental human rights, affecting not only Christians but also moderate Muslims and other civilians.
Speaking on the issue, Huizenga said the crisis is deeply personal to him, both as a legislator and as a man of faith. He noted that the Christian Reformed Church of North America, headquartered in Grand Rapids, has nearly 400,000 members, with its Nigerian counterpart accounting for about 500,000 adherents. He also highlighted longstanding ties between his West Michigan faith community and Nigeria, dating back to the 1920s when missionaries first arrived in what is now Taraba State.
The congressman called on the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to protect all citizens, stressing that safeguarding civilians is a core responsibility of any sovereign state. He warned that continued inaction risks further destabilising Africa’s most populous nation.
Huizenga disclosed that during a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa hearing held before Thanksgiving, he sharply criticised the U.S. Congress, sections of the American media, and Nigerian authorities for what he described as the downplaying of ongoing atrocities. According to him, the persecution of Christians and moderate Muslims constitutes a grave violation of international human rights norms.
He cited reports of attacks on churches and mosques, the abduction and killing of religious leaders, and widespread terror inflicted on communities, often justified by extremists under the guise of enforcing Shari’a law.
Reiterating his concerns in a recent interview with ARISE TV, Huizenga said Nigeria’s leadership continues to underestimate the scale and severity of the violence. He stressed that the killings cut across religious lines and warned that failure to act decisively could plunge the country into a far deeper humanitarian and security crisis.
Huizenga concluded by urging stronger international engagement, including U.S. diplomatic pressure, to ensure accountability and prevent further bloodshed in Nigeria.