US Lawmakers urged to push Nigeria to scrap Sharia Law, disband Hisbah
US Lawmakers urged to push Nigeria to scrap Sharia Law, disband Hisbah
United States lawmakers were on Tuesday urged to mount pressure on the Nigerian government to abolish Sharia law in the northern states where it has been implemented and to dissolve the Hisbah religious police, as experts warned that both the legal system and the enforcement groups are enabling systematic persecution of Christians.
The appeal was made during a joint House briefing convened in response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s October directive, which again designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
At the session, Dr. Ebenezer Obadare, a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, testified that extremist networks such as Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and radicalised Fulani militants are exploiting Sharia structures and Hisbah personnel to promote extremist ideology, compel forced conversions, and operate with near-impunity.
Outlining his proposed response, Obadare offered a two-pronged strategy.
A statement released by the House Appropriations Committee quoted him as saying, “The policy goal should be two-fold: first, work with the Nigerian military to neutralise Boko Haram.
“Second, the United States should put pressure on President Tinubu to (1) make Sharia law unconstitutional in the twelve northern states where they has been adopted since 2000 and (2) disband the various Hisbah groups across northern states seeking to enforce and impose Islamic law on all citizens regardless of their religious identity.”
He acknowledged steps already taken by the Federal Government following pressure from Washington.
“As recent events have shown, the Nigerian authorities are not impervious to incentives,” he said.
“Since the country’s Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation and President Trump’s threat of unilateral military action against Boko Haram, President Tinubu has made several moves, including ordering air strikes against Boko Haram targets, the recruitment of an additional 30,000 policemen, and, most recently, declaring a national security emergency in the country.”
Even so, he insisted more action is necessary, adding, “Washington must keep up the pressure.”
During the bipartisan briefing led by Appropriations Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) with participation from the House Foreign Affairs Committee lawmakers repeatedly accused Nigerian authorities of failing to stop what they described as “religious cleansing” in the north and the Middle Belt.
Witnesses referenced the November 22 abduction of pupils and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, as well as continuing blasphemy-related detentions and mass killings, disputing claims that the ongoing violence is driven solely by resource conflict.
Addressing the root causes of insecurity, Obadare stressed, “The deadliest and most serious threat confronting the Nigerian state today is jihadist terror, perpetrated by the Islamist group Boko Haram.
“Boko Haram translates to ‘Western education is forbidden.’ Boko Haram’s barbarous and implacable campaign to overthrow the Nigerian state and establish an Islamic caliphate in its stead is the source of Nigeria’s present discontents.
“Every proposal to solve the Nigerian crisis that does not take seriously the need to radically degrade and ultimately eliminate Boko Haram as a fighting force is a non-starter.”
Lawmakers echoed these concerns. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) described Nigeria as “ground zero” for global anti-Christian persecution, while Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) called for militias to be disarmed and perpetrators prosecuted.
Officials including U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair Vicky Hartzler and Alliance Defending Freedom International’s Sean Nelson highlighted recent attacks and urged the U.S. government to use aid leverage, sanctions, and early-warning mechanisms to ensure accountability.
Members of Congress from both parties signalled support for Díaz-Balart’s FY26 appropriations provisions targeting the crisis and confirmed that the Appropriations Committee is preparing a detailed report for President Trump recommending possible conditions on U.S. assistance to Nigeria.
The briefing underscored the Trump administration’s latest redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and the growing belief in Congress that dismantling Sharia-based criminal law and the hisbah policing structure is essential to addressing what they consider one of the world’s most severe campaigns against religious minorities.
Trump first placed Nigeria on the CPC list in 2020, though it was later removed by President Joe Biden.
On October 31, Trump again redesignated Nigeria as a CPC over religious freedom violations and warned that the United States could halt assistance or take military action if the Nigerian government fails to address alleged Christian persecution.
Tuesday’s event is the latest in a series of congressional engagements following the redesignation.
A previous hearing on November 20 by a House Subcommittee also examined the issue, featuring testimony from senior U.S. State Department officials and Nigerian religious leaders.
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JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas
JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, declaring that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, will be heading the council for a period of 2 years.
The declaration follows the passing of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025, by the state House of Assembly, and the signing of the same into law by the governor.
Recall that the lawmakers had amended Clause 5 of Section 28 of the Chieftaincy Law to make the Council chairmanship rotational among the Alaafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomoso, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
While inaugurating the Council, Governor Makinde said he had consulted with the trio of the Alaafin, the Olubadan and the Soun, with the three of them reaching a consensus that the chairmanship should start with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
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NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun
NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun
The Inspector General of Police (I-GP), Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has assured that the police remained committed to community policing to ensure that criminals were drastically reduced in the country.
The I-GP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector of Police ( AIG) Zone 17, Dr Ajani Musibau, stated this at the Police Community Relations Committee ( PCRC) National Leadership Training and Conference on Thursday in Akure.
The theme of the conference is: “Inclusivity and Diversity: the New Leadership Paradigm.”
He said that security could not be achieved by only the police, but with the support from the community.
The I-GP stated that security was a joint work and responsibility of all, commending the current leadership of the Nigeria Police for a paradigm shift towards modern policing.
Also, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr Adebowale Lawal, said that bandits could not infiltrate the state due to community policing strategy embraced by the command.
He explained that bandits would have infiltrated the state through Kogi and Edo, but intelligence reports from members of PCRC had been a great help to the police command.
According to him, the support and logistics received from the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun and Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa had also motivated police personnel to work earnestly.
He said that effective community policing was a sure way to curb activities of criminals, and implored members of the public not to relent in their efforts to provide police and other security agencies with useful information.
Lawal also commended other conventional security agencies, forest guards and vigilantes for their support to the police in fighting bandits
In his remarks, the National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Ibrahim Mogaji said that the conference was to strengthen leaders of PCRC in the South-West zone and encourage them to redouble their efforts and support in fighting crimes.
According to Mogaji, the occasion also enabled the association to appreciate Gov. Aiyedatiwa, I-GP, the AIG Zone 17 and the state Commissioner of Police.
He advised the participants to moblise other members of PCRC and orientate them on their roles to continue to fight crime in the country.
The PCRC national chairman asked Nigerians to respect the dignity of police and to be civil when interacting with them.
Mogaji said that the leadership training would be replicated in other geo-political zones of the country.
Also, Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Security, Mr Gbenga Atiba, commended the PCRC , AIG Zone 17, and the Commissioner of Police for their unrelenting efforts to guarantee peace across the state.
Aiyedatiwa promised that the state government would give PCRC attention and continue to support police and other security agencies with appropriate logistics that would make policing more effective.
A guest lecturer, Comrade Yinka Folarin asked members of the public to give respect and dignity to members of the police, saying that they also had rights that must be respected.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PCRC honoured Gov. Aiyedatiwa, AIG Zone 17 and the Commissioner of Police with awards. (NAN)
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Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told
Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for improved welfare packages for armed forces personnel and all members of the security and intelligence community to aid their effectiveness and efficiency.
National Chairman of PDP, Tanimu Turaki, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Thursday to mark the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
Turaki also urged the Federal Government to adequately fund security agencies to effectively neutralise those he described as agents of insecurity, and restore peace to the country.
He expressed PDP’s condolences to the families of members of the armed forces who died in active service while executing their mandate of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“On a day like this, we acknowledge that they paid the supreme price for the continuous existence of our country.
“We advise all actors, whether state or non-state, not to engage in actions capable of destabilising the country.
“In honour of those who have died to keep our country safe, we pray that their deaths may not be in vain and their labours not forgotten,” Turaki said.(NAN)
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