U.S. Lawmakers has been urged to pressure Nigeria on Sharia Criminal Law and Hisbah enforcement amid rising insecurity.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that at a joint briefing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, policy experts urged U.S. lawmakers to increase diplomatic pressure on the Nigerian government to abolish Sharia-based criminal law in northern states and dismantle Hisbah religious-enforcement commissions.
The session which was convened in response to Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the U.S. State Department examined what witnesses described as systemic religious persecution, escalating insecurity, and the role of state-backed religious institutions in the violence affecting northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt.
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Dr. Ebenezer Obadare, Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, presented a policy roadmap that he believes is necessary to address extremist-driven violence. He argued that Boko Haram and other armed groups continue to exploit Sharia frameworks to deepen instability.
Obadare recommended three core actions the U.S. should encourage the Tinubu administration to take:
Neutralize Boko Haram by strengthening military cooperation to dismantle the jihadist group.
Abolish Sharia Criminal Law in the 12 northern states that adopted it in 2000, arguing that its application violates constitutional provisions.
Disband Hisbah Commissions, the state-sanctioned bodies enforcing Sharia rules on citizens regardless of religious affiliation.
He noted that recent moves by President Tinubu, including intensified military strikes, recruitment of 30,000 police officers, and the declaration of a national security emergency show that the government responds to international pressure. However, he insisted that “Washington must keep up the pressure.”
Accusations of State Complicity
Led by House Appropriations Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart, the bipartisan hearing featured testimonies alleging that the Nigerian government has been “complicit” in what some witnesses described as “religious cleansing” targeting Christian communities.
Documented incidents presented to lawmakers included:
The November 22 abduction of students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State.
Continued imprisonment of individuals under blasphemy laws.
Ongoing mass killings in the Middle Belt, which witnesses insist cannot be explained solely by resource conflict narratives.
Obadare said the crisis is rooted in jihadist extremism, stating:
“Boko Haram’s implacable campaign to overthrow the Nigerian state and establish an Islamic caliphate is at the heart of Nigeria’s current discontents.”
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) called Nigeria “ground zero for global anti-Christian persecution,” while Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) urged the U.S. to push for the disarmament of armed groups and prosecution of perpetrators.
Calls for U.S. Leverage, Sanctions
USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler and ADF International representative Sean Nelson urged the U.S. government to use tools such as targeted sanctions, early-warning systems, and conditions on security assistance to enforce accountability.
Lawmakers revealed that the House Appropriations Committee is drafting a formal report to President Donald Trump with policy recommendations that may include conditions on U.S. aid to Nigeria.
Background on Sharia Law and Hisbah Enforcement
Sharia law in Nigeria was historically limited to personal and civil matters, but beginning in 2000, 12 northern states expanded its scope to include criminal offenses through Sharia Penal Codes.
The Hisbah commissions—state institutions empowered to police morality—have since been criticized for overreach. Reports show that Hisbah brigades have targeted citizens for:
Playing music deemed un-Islamic.
Same-sex relationships, which under some state penal codes carry the death penalty, though no executions have been recorded since 1999.
Blasphemy, which may attract long prison terms, public flogging, amputation, or death sentences.
Critics argue that these systems undermine constitutional rights, fuel religious tensions, and create parallel legal structures that extremist groups manipulate.
