United States Congressman Bill Huizenga has said there are indications of changing attitudes within the Nigerian government toward protecting Christians from extremist violence.
Huizenga made the remarks in a post on X on Friday following a visit to Nigeria with a United States congressional delegation. During the trip, the lawmakers met with Nigerian officials to discuss the country’s security challenges and the government’s response to attacks by extremist groups.
According to him, the engagements offered the delegation insight into how Nigerian authorities are addressing violence affecting both religious communities and civilians.
“The Congressional Delegation I led to Nigeria this past weekend provided insight that some attitudes inside the Nigerian Government are beginning to turn in favor of protecting Christians — in addition to taking actions against those terrorizing Christians and moderate Muslims,” Huizenga said.
The visit formed part of broader US efforts to review Nigeria’s security situation and assess ongoing counterterrorism measures. Members of the delegation held meetings with government officials and other stakeholders to discuss attacks by extremist groups and their impact on communities across the country.
The lawmakers also examined Nigeria’s internal security strategies and the effectiveness of government institutions in responding to violence against civilians in different regions. The trip was part of wider diplomatic and legislative engagement between the United States and Nigeria, focusing on security cooperation and oversight of US foreign policy interests in the region.
Huizenga’s comments came after former US President Donald Trump announced that the US military had carried out airstrikes against fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as ISIS, in northwest Nigeria.
In a statement released on Christmas Day, Trump said the strikes were launched at his direction and targeted ISIS elements operating in the region. He claimed the militants had been targeting and killing, primarily, Christians for years.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in northwest Nigeria,” Trump said, adding that the US would not allow radical Islamic terrorism to thrive.
The airstrikes and Huizenga’s remarks have renewed attention on Nigeria’s security challenges and international concern over the protection of civilians affected by extremist violence.
