Two Republican lawmakers have pushed for the U.S. government to provide annual reports into how it is protecting Christian in Nigeria, as part of a bill introduced to Congress.
The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act would require the Secretary of State to report on how the Nigerian government is respecting religious freedom and how the American government is preventing persecution.
Fulani herdsmen, who have perpetrated much of the violence against Christians, could be labelled as terrorists under the law, according to Nigerian newspaper The Guardian.
The bill also requires an evaluation of U.S. assistance to Nigeria, whether it “risks enabling or exacerbating religious persecution," and an assessment of how Christians are impacted by sharia law and blasphemy rules.
Abuja has frequently denied that Christians are being persecuted, as other religious groups have been targeted.
Representatives Riley Moore of West Virginia and Chris Smith of New Jersey have introduced the legislation.
They believe it “comes in the wake of extensive focus on the issue from Congress and President Trump, who has been leading the global charge to end the persecution of our brothers and sisters in Christ in Nigeria.”
The bill comes after another wave of attacks against Christians in the northern and central states of Nigeria. The country ranks seventh on the Open Doors World Watch List for religious persecution.
Mr Smith accused the Nigerian government of “blatant denial of the religious persecution occurring within its borders," which has “enabled the religious-based violence in the country to fester.”
“Inaction on the parts of both the Nigerian and U.S. governments only emboldens these radical Islamist thugs to inflict even more misery, suffering, and death upon Christians and non-radical Muslims in Nigeria,” he said.
Mr Moore added: “For years, Christians in Nigeria have faced unspeakable violence—churches burned, villages destroyed, families slaughtered—while the global community looked away.
“I applaud the Nigerian government for working in coordination and cooperation with the Trump Administration to address the security challenges throughout the country. I stand ready to continue working to deepen and strengthen our relationship with Nigeria, as we work to save Christian lives.”
Catholic bishops in Nigeria have described the attacks as “a massacre allowed by silence and called for the government to intensify efforts to stop the violence.