In a recent article published by The Hill, Andrea Picciotti-Bayer sounds the alarm about the ongoing atrocities against Christians in Nigeria. Recipient of RFI’s 2025 Religious Freedom Impact Award, Piciotti-Bayer outlines the escalating violence and argues that what we are witnessing there may amount to genocide – a designation that could trigger a much-needed international response.

“Christians in Nigeria are becoming modern-day martyrs. People of faith must raise our voices to respond to their plight,” she writes. That call to action is at the heart of Piciotti-Bayer’s message.

As a result of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the U.S. government has a framework for responding to these kinds of crises. The act allows for countries to be designated as “countries of particular concern” (CPCs) if they are found to tolerate or commit severe violations of religious freedom. Nigeria held that designation in 2020, but was removed from the list in 2021, with the State Department attributing increasing violence to climate change rather than religious persecution.

Piciotti-Bayer urges Congress to act by supporting a resolution introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), which calls for Nigeria to be redesignated and sanctioned as a CPC. She also calls for the swift confirmation of former Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.) as Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, to support Secretary of State Marco Rubio in driving a more informed and proactive U.S. response.

With more than 3,000 Christians killed, 2,000 kidnapped, and countless more displaced, Piciotti-Bayer argues that a simple designation may not be enough. Labeling the situation as a genocide could pave the way for coordinated humanitarian aid, international pressure, and legal accountability.

Read the full article: “Trump must not ignore Nigeria’s humanitarian crisis.”