Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, issued a statement following U.S. military airstrikes on ISIS settlements in northwestern Nigeria.
“President Trump’s decisive action reflects the United States’ unyielding commitment to standing up to the Nigerian terrorists, who have been murdering, raping, torturing and violently harassing Christians and non-radical Muslims in the region for decades,” Smith said.
He added, “Coordinated under Secretary Pete Hegseth, the limited precision airstrikes against Islamist terrorists in Nigeria clearly demonstrate that violent actions against Christians and other religious groups have profound consequences.”
Smith emphasized that these strikes serve as a warning: “The strikes also put the radical Islamist terrorists in Nigeria on notice that the United States will never condone or turn a blind eye to religious persecution and violence.”
He highlighted recent diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Nigeria: “Significantly, the U.S. Department of State and Nigeria on December 19 signed a five-year bilateral America First Global Health Strategy, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen Nigeria’s health system with a strong emphasis on promoting Christian faith-based healthcare providers. The U.S. intends to commit $2.1 billion in health assistance in the combined investment of nearly $5.1 billion over the life of the MOU.”
According to Smith, “According to State, ‘The MOU was negotiated in connection with reforms the Nigerian government has made to prioritize protecting Christian populations from violence….’ Additionally, it was announced that the Trump Administration ‘expects Nigeria to continue to make progress ensuring that it combats extremist religious violence against vulnerable Christian populations.’”
Smith recalled previous congressional actions: “In October, I and many of my colleagues applauded President Trump and welcomed his declaration of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ based on the religious persecution of Christians in that country.”
He continued, “I then chaired a hearing entitled, ‘President Trump’s Redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”: A Serious, Well-Founded Wake-Up Call,’ at which key State Department officials made it clear that the Trump administration was working tirelessly to ensure that human rights and religious freedom remain central to our bilateral relationship with Nigeria.”
Chris Smith has served as U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 4th District since 1981 after succeeding Frank Thompson. He was born in Rahway, New Jersey in 1953 and currently lives in Manchester Township. Smith graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975.
