The U.S. Congress has formally called on the Nigerian government to repeal Sharia and blasphemy laws, alleging that they contribute to rising extremist violence across the country.
The demand follows months of investigation by a bipartisan congressional team, which included fact-finding trips to Nigeria, consultations with religious leaders, hearings with expert witnesses, and meetings with government officials and displaced persons.
The report calls for a bilateral security agreement between the United States and Nigeria to protect vulnerable populations and dismantle jihadist networks operating in the region.
It also recommends sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals complicit in religious persecution, along with technical support to curb violence from armed Fulani militias.
This development occurred on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., following Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations, a move initiated by President Trump.
The investigation documented widespread atrocities, including mass killings, kidnappings, and destruction of churches by groups such as Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province, and armed Fulani militias, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths.
The report explicitly urges “the repeal of Sharia and blasphemy laws,” stating that these legal frameworks have been used to target Christians, Muslims, and dissenters, worsening religious tensions and allowing convictions without due process.
Congressman Riley M. Moore, who led the investigation, said: “I travelled on a bipartisan delegation to Nigeria and witnessed the horrific attacks on Christians and the instability the government must confront.”
The lawmakers stressed that Christians in Nigeria continue to face violent attacks, including murders of pastors and priests, destruction of churches and schools, and abductions, underscoring the urgency of legal and security reforms.
In response to such claims, the Miyetti Allah Association, representing Fulani herders, has denied any links to terrorism or violence, asserting that narratives associating them with mass atrocities are misguided and unfair.
Muslim groups in Nigeria, including the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, have reacted strongly, maintaining that Sharia law is an integral part of the nation’s constitutional framework and cultural heritage, applicable primarily to Muslims in personal matters.
Legal experts note that repealing Sharia would require constitutional amendments, a complex process, as it operates in twelve northern states alongside secular courts, and its removal could provoke significant resistance from Muslim communities.
The Nigerian government has not issued an official response to the congressional report as of yet, though past statements have described the violence as stemming from farmer-herder conflicts rather than religious persecution, affecting multiple groups indiscriminately.
Advocates for religious freedom, such as those from ADF International, have endorsed the report, stating that “no person should be persecuted for their faith,” and highlighting the need for international pressure to address blasphemy laws that fuel mob violence against minorities.
