Ocean County Leader

Congressman Chris Smith has expressed strong condemnation of transnational repression targeting Nigerians and Nigerian-Americans in the U.S. This comes in the aftermath of a congressional hearing held on March 12, 2025, which Smith, as the Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, oversaw. The focus of the hearing was on religious persecution in Nigeria.

“These alarming acts of intimidation—occurring both before and after my Congressional hearing—are not isolated,” Smith said. He linked these acts to testimonies given before Congress about religious freedom violations in Nigeria. He has proposed H.R. 3654, The Transnational Repression Policy Act, and authored H.Res. 220 to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

The hearing scrutinized Nigeria's record on religious freedom, including the persecution of Christians and non-Fulani Muslims. Testimonies pointed to threats that arose against those involved in or supporting the hearings.

Smith expressed concern for the safety of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe and Father Remigius Ihyula, following reports of threats allegedly originating from Nigerian government circles. “Credible sources now indicate that Bishop Anagbe may face detention upon returning to Nigeria, and I also fear there are some who would seek to do him physical harm,” Smith stated.

Bishop Anagbe has been an advocate against violence in Nigeria’s Benue State. However, instead of addressing these issues, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs labeled his Congressional testimony misinformation.

“This thuggery not only threatens fundamental human rights, but it also violates U.S. criminal law and undermines a core congressional oversight function,” Smith remarked, comparing these actions to tactics used by the Chinese Communist Party to suppress dissent.

Smith also referenced Emmanuel Ogebe, a Nigerian human rights attorney, who faced retaliation after his 2015 testimony before Congress. “Mr. Ogebe was forced to sue to protect his constitutional rights. Others remain in hiding. In the worst cases, they become martyrs. This must end,” he said.

Smith asserted that the U.S. should not tolerate foreign entities that intimidate individuals exercising their rights on U.S. soil. He committed to working with relevant U.S. agencies to address these acts and ensure accountability.

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