Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL), who represents Alabama’s 4th district and serves as Chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, participated in a joint briefing with other House leaders to address increasing religious persecution in Nigeria. The event was organized with members of the House Appropriations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Aderholt was joined by Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee; Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV); Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ); Hon. Vicky Hartzler, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom; Sean Nelson from Alliance Defending Freedom International; and Dr. Ebenezer Obadare from the Council on Foreign Relations.
The roundtable followed an October 31 directive from President Donald J. Trump instructing the House Appropriations Committee to investigate violence against Christians in Nigeria and report findings to the White House.
During the briefing, participants discussed reports that attacks targeting Christians and other religious minorities have increased across Nigeria. Testimony highlighted extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province as key actors behind kidnappings, killings, and displacement affecting Christian communities.
Witnesses recommended that Congress strengthen diplomatic efforts with Nigerian authorities, use security assistance for accountability measures like police reform and early-warning systems, and support initiatives aimed at dismantling terrorist networks responsible for violence against religious groups.
Citing recent mass abductions and assaults on churches, experts described an urgent threat facing families practicing their faith in Nigeria.
Aderholt stated: “The rising violence and targeted persecution of Christians in Nigeria is a crisis that can’t be ignored. Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked to protect the most vulnerable, including those whose lives and liberties are threatened simply because of their faith. We must stand firmly with Nigeria’s Christian communities and all persecuted believers worldwide, and I commend our collaborative efforts to provide the President with the information needed to confront this growing tragedy.”
He also said: “As we move forward,” Aderholt added, “Congress must ensure America remains a beacon for religious freedom and a defender of those who are targeted simply for worshipping God.”
Aderholt has represented Alabama’s 4th District since 1997 after replacing Tom Bevill in Congress https://www.house.gov/aderholt. He previously served in the Alabama House of Representatives before being elected to Congress https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/A000055. Born in Haleyville, Alabama in 1965, Aderholt currently resides there https://ballotpedia.org/Robert_Aderholt. He graduated from Birmingham–Southern College with a BA in 1987 before earning his JD from Samford University in 1990.
The House Appropriations Committee will continue its investigation into violence against religious minorities in Nigeria as directed by President Trump.
