The United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa has given President Donald Trump the green light to impose stringent sanctions on Nigeria in response to the widespread k!lling of Christians in the country.

The decision followed a congressional hearing on Wednesday, March 12. during which lawmakers condemned the Nigerian government for failing to protect Christian communities from escalating violence.

The committee also cited a 2024 report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, which revealed that Nigerians accounted for 90 per cent of all Christians killed worldwide each year.

The report documented that between October 2019 and September 2023, a staggering 55,910 people were killed, while 21,000 others were abducted by terrorist groups operating in the region.

During the hearing, Committee Chairman Chris Smith, who highlighted the severity of the crisis, pointed to testimony from Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Diocese of Makurdi, Nigeria, as a viable witness.

He said: “One of our distinguished witnesses today—Bishop Wilfred Anagbe—travelled a long distance to be with us, and his testimony is both compelling and disturbing.

disturbing.

“Militant Fulani herdsmen are terrorists. They steal and vandalise, they kill and boast about it, they kidnap and rape, and they enjoy total impunity from elected officials. None of them have been arrested or brought to justice.”

“Make no mistake – these attacks are religiously motivated,” the report stated, adding: “Denying this reality contradicts the overwhelming evidence we have seen with our own eyes. This ‘religious cleansing’ must stop, and those responsible must be held accountable.”

The congressional panel strongly criticised the Nigerian government for failing to address religiously motivated violence, despite constitutional protections for religious freedom.

Expressing concern that Nigeria’s judicial system had been weaponised to suppress Christian communities, the lawmakers cited cases where blasphemy laws have been used to target religious minorities.

Responding to the bench warrant, the blogger’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, said the singer is only interested in media trial.

The Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of blogger Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), for “criminal defamation” of the reputation of gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo.

The magistrate ordered the Nigeria Police Force together with other law enforcement agencies to arrest VeryDarkMan and bring him to court to answer the allegations levelled against him.

Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna issued the bench warrant on Thursday, March 13, 2025, when VeryDarkMan failed to appear before the magistrate following a court summons on March 5, 2025, for him to do so.

Though VeryDarkMan’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, appealed to the magistrate to rethink the bench warrant and that he would personally produce his client in court, Magistrate Iyanna rejected the appeal and insisted that VeryDarkMan be produced in court by security agencies.

When contacted, Adeyanju told Channels Television that a bench warrant was issued against his client.

“Yes, a bench warrant has been issued against him for failure to show up in court.

“They are just interested in media trial over the matter. They are not interested in prosecuting the matter,” Adeyanju said.

The bench warrant stemmed from alleged defamatory statements made by VDM on social media, accusing Chinwo of involvement in a contractual dispute and the purported diversion of $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee.

In support of her claims, Chinwo furnished the court with documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to substantiate that VDM’s allegations were not only entirely false but damning and injurious to her public image and reputation.

The complainant’s lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor, Chinwo said the alleged actions of the defendant are contrary to Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.

Mercy Chinwo and VDM (right).

Recall that Chinwo’s counsel also dragged VDM before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking N1.1bn damages against the blogger.

The lawyer sought an order compelling VDM to delete, retract, and issue a public apology for all allegedly false and defamatory statements made against Chinwo and her brand.

Troops of 3 Division, Nigerian Army, under Operation Safe Haven, have arrested a notorious gunrunner and recovered arms along the Bokkos-Bot-Mangu road in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

This was contained in a post by security analyst, Zagazola Makama on Thursday.

According to the report, the operation was carried out following credible intelligence on the movement of arms and ammunition in the area.

The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Sengi David from Kopal Village in Panyam District of Mangu LGA, was intercepted at about 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday while attempting to smuggle weapons.

“He was found in possession of one AK-47 magazine with civil police markings and 48 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,” the post read.

Military sources disclosed that the suspect and the recovered arms are currently in custody for further investigation, while a manhunt has been launched for other members of the gun-running syndicate.

The Nigerian Army assured residents of its continued efforts to curb illegal arms proliferation and maintain peace in Plateau and other areas under Operation Safe Haven.