A member of the United States House of Representatives, Johnny Olszewski, has expressed deep concern over the alleged inability of the Nigerian government to protect communities against insurgent attacks.

Speaking during a public hearing by the US House Subcommittee on Africa on Thursday, the congressman decried the state of religious freedom and growing extremist violence in Nigeria, warning that both Christians and Muslims continue to suffer devastating attacks due to the government’s inability to protect vulnerable communities.

He stated, “The Nigerian government lacks the means to protect communities against groups that kill indiscriminately.

“To be clear, this does not abdicate the Nigerian government from responsibility.

“Muslims and Christians alike have lived under the constant threat of extreme groups like Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa for far too long. And so the real story here for me is not about Nigeria’s intent at the institutional level to persecute people based on faith.”

The lawmaker, who openly identified as a Christian, said the debate around Nigeria should not be framed as persecution by the government but as a critical “capacity problem” that has left millions exposed to extremist groups.

“Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour. I have no problem sharing that. I am also troubled by the state of religious freedom in Nigeria and around the world.

“So, I want to be clear upfront, violence against Christians in Nigeria is a serious issue. Christians are being massacred and communities are living in constant fear. But this suffering is not just confined to one religious group,” he added.

Citing President Donald Trump’s senior adviser on Africa, Masabulo, the congressman noted that terrorism in Nigeria affects people irrespective of “colour, religion or tribe,” stressing that Muslims and Christians have equally endured persistent attacks from Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa.

He, however, stressed that acknowledging this lack of capacity does not absolve Nigeria’s leaders of responsibility, warning that governance failures, corruption and neglect must be confronted.

“A government’s duty is to protect its people. And when there’s a failure to do so, whether that’s neglect or corruption or governance, leaders must be held accountable. But capacity within Nigerian institutions to maintain peace is a real question,” Olszewski stated.

The lawmaker also questioned the effectiveness of US policy towards Nigeria, calling for more meaningful support rather than threats of sanctions or military action.

“And we should be asking what the US is doing to help Nigeria build that capacity. Are we offering real partnerships or just threatening airstrikes and sanctions? Or instead, are we thinking about technical support, training and investment in the institutions that prevent violence in the first place?

“So let’s work together to fix what is broken. And I appreciate the ranking member for opening up this hearing with additional support options,” he said.

His remarks come amid renewed global scrutiny of insecurity in Nigeria, following the recent designation by President Donald Trump of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern