The Nigerian Senate has set up a 12-member ad-hoc committee to advise the legislature on how to respond to mounting international concern over alleged persecution of Christians in the country.
This followed claims by the United States Government suggesting acts of genocide against Christians in some parts of Nigeria a development that has attracted global attention and posed potential diplomatic challenges.
The committee, unveiled after a closed-door session, is tasked with preparing a comprehensive position paper that will inform Nigeria’s legislative stance and guide future engagements with international bodies.
Named to the panel are: Senator Victor Umeh, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, and Senator Aniekan Bassey. Others are Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, Senator Abdul Ningi, Senator Titus Zam, Senator Tony Nwoye, Senator, Tahir Munguno and Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong …with others to be confirmed.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed that the report must include verifiable data and statistics, not rhetoric.
Earlier, lawmakers resolved to engage U.S. Congress members directly to counter what they described as “misleading narratives” that paint Nigeria’s complex security issues as religious genocide.
The motion was raised by Senator Ali Ndume, sparking a broader debate on the impact of international perceptions on Nigeria’s diplomatic image and economy.
“There are misconceptions that need correction. Both Christians and Muslims are victims of terrorism,” Akpabio said, backing a fact-finding mission to the United States.
Lawmakers expressed concerns that international commentary, although often well-intentioned, oversimplified Nigeria’s multifaceted security crisis, where criminal and extremist violence affect multiple religious groups.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim urged for knowledge-based strategies in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, while others emphasised the need for calm, fact-driven diplomacy.
The committee is expected to submit its findings in the coming weeks, ahead of a formal engagement with US officials and international human rights organizations.
