📢 President Trump named Nigeria a CPC due to the horrific persecution of Christians & serious security threats…

📢 President Trump named Nigeria a CPC due to the horrific persecution of Christians & serious security threats the country faces. He asked me to lead the investigation. On Monday, I delivered our report to the White House. @POTUS is reviewing our recommendations. So can you🧵

First, we must be clear about the crisis. Violence and insecurity in Nigeria affects people of all faiths, but Christians bear the overwhelming brunt of the attacks and have suffered in silence for two decades. Christians are 5 times more likely to be killed than any other religious group. Fulani militias and terrorist groups constantly attack Christians: targeting pastors and priests, burning schools and churches, often on holy days. They have killed tens of thousands.

President Trump’s decisive action and eagerness to defend Christians has created a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deepen and strengthen the relationship between our two nations and confront this crisis head on. While the government of Nigeria requires assistance to address the pressing security challenges, the Tinubu government must demonstrate the political will to defend suffering Christians by allocating resources to immediately reduce and ultimately end this violence.

Any bilateral agreement between the United States and Nigeria should include commitments from Abuja to: - Co-fund donor-supported humanitarian assistance, prioritizing Christians in the Middle Belt region. - Implement early-warning mechanisms for attacks and deploy armed security forces to the Middle Belt to respond effectively and prevent violence. - Remove Fulani militias from the productive farmland that they have confiscated and enable the voluntary return of displaced communities to their homes.

For its part, Washington should consider offering technical support by: - Developing a program to confiscate illicit weapons - Supporting the new Ministry of Livestock and its land reform efforts. - Enhancing the capabilities of security forces and the military to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks. - Cooperating with counter-terrorism efforts in the region by providing excess defense equipment. - Counteracting illegal Chinese mining operations that pay protection money to Fulani militias.

In accordance with the annual State Department funding bill that was passed last month, the United States should also provide funds for: - Programs to strengthen religious freedom. - Improved policing and a stronger criminal justice sector. - Methods to counter money laundering and disrupt terrorist financial networks. - Treasury Department programs to increase the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system. - A GAO audit report on the effectiveness of aid to Nigeria and recommendations for better oversight.

But – critically – all of this must be contingent upon the Nigerian government providing proof of progress that it is, in fact, working to stabilize the country and protect Christians. The Nigerian government has made some good faith efforts, like establishing the Ministry of Livestock and pardoning Sunday Jackson - a Christian on death row because he defended himself against an attack from the Fulani. But more must be done to respond swiftly and decisively to attacks, particularly in the Middle Belt.

We urged President Trump to implement sanctions and restrict visas for individuals who participate in or tolerate violence against Christians. America has a right to control who enters our country and when. We should certainly reject anyone who is attacking our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We should also work aggressively to disarm Fulani militia. The Fulani militias are more responsible than any other group, including ISWAP and Boko Haram, for the attacks on Christians in Nigeria. A potential point of leverage is beef exports. The Fulani ship cattle-related products to the Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Africa, Senegal, and many other African nations. When crafting trade deals and other international agreements, the State Department could work to cut off the Fulani from these markets if they refuse to disarm and work with the Nigerian government and their newly established Ministry of Livestock.

The United States should also launch a National Intelligence Estimate on Nigeria’s instability. This authoritative assessment can determine whether Fulani militia groups and other radical Islamic terrorists should be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organization.

As I’ve said many times before, I will never stay silent as our brothers and sisters in Christ are being slaughtered for their faith and other innocents who are killed at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists. I believe that the recommendations in this report will help stop violence against Christians and stabilize the country for all Nigerians, while making the bilateral relationship between the United States and Nigeria stronger. In the words of St. Paul to the Romans: “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Thank you to my colleagues @TomColeOK04, @MarioDB, @RepBrianMast, and Rep Chris Smith whose expertise and steadfast leadership on @HouseAppropsGOP and @HouseForeignGOP made this report possible. I also want to thank @POTUS for his fearless leadership in defending Christians.