US and Nigerian lawmakers held separate urgent meetings on Tuesday as kidnappings and religious violence continue to rise across Nigeria.
In Washington, US legislators, acting on an October 31 directive, reviewed attacks on Christians and growing threats to religious freedom. Lawmakers criticised Nigeria’s response to extremists and urged stronger action against armed groups.
Top members of Congress described the crisis as a moral emergency, warning against ongoing kidnappings, killings, and unchecked militias.
In Abuja, President Bola Tinubu met with service chiefs to assess the worsening security situation after declaring a nationwide emergency. The plan includes recruiting 20,000 new police officers, deploying forest guards, and improving protection for schools and worship centres.
Nigeria’s House of Representatives is set to debate the security situation, with several lawmakers pushing for state police to strengthen local responses. A new US-Nigeria Joint Working Group has also been launched to boost intelligence sharing and counterterrorism coordination.