A member of the United States Congress, Sara Jacobs, has criticised former President Donald Trump over his threat of military action against Nigeria on the grounds of alleged “Christian genocide.”
Jacobs, a Democrat representing California’s 51st Congressional District, described the threat as “reckless” during a congressional hearing on Thursday convened to examine Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern.
The hearing featured testimonies from US officials, religious leaders, and policy analysts as Congress reviews Nigeria’s designation and explores potential diplomatic and humanitarian responses.
Speaking at the hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Africa, where she serves as Ranking Member, Jacobs warned that any unilateral military move by Trump would be illegal.
“President Trump’s threat is reckless, and any unilateral military action in Nigeria is illegal. Congress has not authorised force in Nigeria to protect Christians,” she stated.
Jacobs also faulted attempts to frame the violence in Nigeria solely as a religious conflict, stressing that such narratives oversimplify the situation and inflame tensions.
According to her, both Christians and Muslims are victims of insecurity across different regions of Nigeria.
She added, “Pinning the violence in Nigeria to religious crisis does not capture the whole picture. The violence affects both Christians and Muslims.”
The lawmaker urged Nigerian authorities to intensify efforts to protect lives and address the root causes of insecurity.
She maintained that the US must adopt a balanced, fact-based approach when analysing Nigeria’s complex security crisis.
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