US Congressman Bill Huizenga Blasts Tinubu Government for Inaction on Rising Insecurity
U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he describes as its failure to confront growing insecurity and violence in Nigeria.
Speaking before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Huizenga accused the Nigerian government of “sitting back” while extremist attacks intensify across the country.
He warned that the crisis is not limited to Christians: “It ought to be outrageous that … Christians, moderate Muslims, and anyone being terrorised by these radicalised Islamists … and we’ve got the Tinubu government sitting back and not doing enough.”
Delegation Accused of Downplaying the Crisis
Huizenga also criticized a recent Nigerian delegation in Washington, claiming its members tried to minimize the scale of the violence. He said their “excuses” should be rejected and called out for misrepresenting the severity of the situation.
He expressed personal frustration, citing his ties to Nigeria, friends, former schoolmates, and missionaries, who have relayed deeply troubling stories about the violence.
Evidence of Persistent Violence
To underscore his point, Huizenga recalled a Christmas Eve 2023 attack that reportedly killed about 200 people, arguing it proves that security conditions have not improved.
He questioned patterns of religious violence, asking provocatively: “Do we see Christians killing Muslims the way radicalised Islamists kill Christians …?”
Calls for Action, Not Military Intervention
Although Huizenga supports the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation for Nigeria, he ruled out backing a U.S. military strike.
Instead, he advocated for targeted economic measures, such as visa bans and asset freezes — to pressure those responsible.
He argued that the real threat to U.S. companies in Nigeria is not sanctions, but the persistent violence: “Unmitigated violence and a government willingly turning a blind eye … is the real deterrent to U.S. investment,” he said.
Risk of Underplaying the Crisis
Huizenga warned that dismissing or minimizing the scale of religious violence undermines accountability and leaves vulnerable communities exposed.
He urged stronger U.S. action and more transparency from the Nigerian government, calling for clear evidence that Abuja is prosecuting perpetrators and protecting all its citizens, not just making diplomatic statements.