Panels of the United States Congress have held a hearing on global religious freedom, raising fresh concerns about rising insecurity and religious tensions in Nigeria. Witnesses warned that the situation could worsen if violence and weak governance continue unchecked, describing Nigeria as a major flashpoint in debates around freedom of belief worldwide.

The concerns were outlined in written testimonies released ahead of a joint session by the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittees on Africa and the Western Hemisphere. The hearing, titled “Defending Religious Freedom Around the World,” examined threats to religious communities in different regions, with Nigeria featured prominently.

Former US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, described Nigeria as one of the most dangerous places for Christians, pointing to recurring violence, displacement, and insecurity. He warned that unresolved tensions could fuel wider religious conflict across Africa and also cautioned that the involvement of foreign actors in Nigeria’s security landscape could further complicate stability.

Another witness, former US Commission on International Religious Freedom chair Dr. Stephen Schneck, said freedom of religion is facing a global crisis, citing Nigeria, Syria, and Sudan as examples. He criticised what he described as gaps between US policy statements and action, while stressing that religious freedom protections must apply to all faiths. Nigerian authorities, however, continue to deny claims of targeted persecution, insisting that insecurity affects citizens regardless of religion.