At a joint House briefing in Washington on Tuesday, US lawmakers and foreign-policy experts urged the United States government to pressure President Bola Tinubu to abolish Sharia criminal law in northern Nigeria and disband Hisbah religious police. The session followed Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” and focused on what witnesses described as systematic anti-Christian persecution across northern states and the Middle Belt.
Dr. Ebenezer Obadare of the Council on Foreign Relations outlined a policy roadmap for Washington, which included eliminating Boko Haram, declaring Sharia criminal law unconstitutional, and dismantling Hisbah enforcement groups. Witnesses argued that extremist groups exploit these structures to fuel violence.
Lawmakers also cited recent kidnappings, blasphemy prosecutions, and large-scale attacks as evidence of deepening insecurity. A formal recommendation to President Donald Trump is being prepared, potentially tying US aid to Nigeria’s handling of the crisis.
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