ACR175

A Concurrent Resolution condemning the genocide against Christians in Nigeria and urging the United States Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”

Whereas, Nigeria is home to over 92 million Christians who comprise over 40 percent of Nigeria’s population; and

Whereas, Since 2009, over 50,000 Christians in Nigeria have been killed, over 19,000 churches have been attacked or destroyed, and over 15 million Christians in Nigeria have been displaced on the basis of their faith; and

Whereas, Nigeria is one of the most dangerous countries in the world in which to be a Christian, as Christians in Nigeria are highly vulnerable to targeted attacks, discrimination, and oppression; and

Whereas, Because of this religious persecution, in every year since 2009, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has called for the United States Department of State to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” a status reserved for countries that engage in or tolerate systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom; and

Whereas, In March 2025, New Jersey United States Representative Chris Smith echoed this call through his introduction of a congressional resolution, H.Res.220, which urges the United States Department of State to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to the religious persecution of Christians in Nigeria; and

Whereas, The United Nations defines genocide as “actions committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group”; and

Whereas, The horrifying scope and magnitude of the murder, dismantling of churches, and physical displacement of Christians in Nigeria committed with the intent to destroy all signs of Christianity in Nigeria amounts to a genocide; and

Whereas, Officially recognizing the religious persecution experienced by Christians in Nigeria as a genocide and designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” is critical in order to hold the country of Nigeria responsible on the world stage, prevent further death and destruction, and seek justice for persecuted Christians in Nigeria; now, therefore ,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

1. The New Jersey Legislature condemns the religious persecution of Christians in Nigeria as genocide.

2. The United States Secretary of State is respectfully urged to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”

3. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the President and Vice-President of the United States, the United States Secretary of State, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States House of Representatives, every member of Congress elected from this State, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Washington D.C..

STATEMENT

This concurrent resolution condemns the religious persecution of Christians in Nigeria as genocide and urges the United States Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”

The nation of Nigeria has a large Christian population, accounting for roughly half of the nation’s total population. Reports by non-governmental organizations, non-profit organizations, and governmental bodies have revealed the levels of persecution Christians in Nigeria face. Intersociety, a Nigerian non-governmental organization, has reported that since 2009, over 50,000 Christians have been killed, over 19,000 churches have been attacked or destroyed, and over 15 million Christians in Nigeria have been displaced on the basis of their faith. Open Doors International, a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of persecuted Christians, has found that Nigeria is one of the most dangerous countries in the world in which to be a Christian, as Christians in Nigeria are highly vulnerable to targeted attacks, discrimination, and oppression.

The religious persecution of Christians in Nigeria has gained attention in the United States in recent years. Every year since 2009, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended that the United States Department of State to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” a designation reserved for countries that engage in and tolerate systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. In March 2025, New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith echoed this call through his introduction of a congressional resolution, H.Res.220, which urges the United States Department of State to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to the religious persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

The scope and magnitude of religious persecution faced by Christians in Nigeria rises to the level of genocide, which the United Nations defines as “actions committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group.” It is critical to officially recognize the religious persecution of Christians in Nigeria as a genocide and for the United States Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” in order to hold the country of Nigeria responsible on the world stage, prevent further death and destruction, and seek justice for persecuted Christians in Nigeria.