U.S. lawmaker and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, Chris Smith, has condemned Palm Sunday attack in Anguwan Rukuba, Plateau State, lamenting continued failure of government to prevent such attacks.
In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Smith condemned what described as “the recent deadly attacks perpetrated against Christian communities in Nigeria’s Plateau State.”
He said, “The Nigerian government has a fundamental responsibility—and constitutional duty—to protect all its citizens, regardless of their faith. The continued failure to prevent and intercept these targeted attacks not only deepens human suffering, but also threatens the fabric of religious coexistence in the region. The need for the government to step up and protect the lives and religious liberty of Nigerians cannot be overstated.
“My wife, Marie, and I were absolutely horrified by the brutal massacres that occurred in the Jos North area of Nigeria on Palm Sunday, which have reportedly left at least 20 innocent people dead. These savage killings, targeting Christians as they gathered during one of the most sacred times of the year, are incredibly heartbreaking and absolutely unacceptable.”
Mr Smith said the recurrence of such attack which occurred same time last year was a call for decisive actions, urging the U.S. to stand in solidarity with the Christian community in Nigeria.
“Tragically, this violence follows a deeply disturbing pattern. On Palm Sunday just last year, similar attacks in Plateau State claimed the lives of at least 54 Christians. The fact that such atrocities are repeated year after year—on the same holy day—underscores the urgent need for decisive action,” Mr Smith said.
He added, “The United States must continue to stand in solidarity with the persecuted Christians and all other victims of religious violence in Nigeria. I call on Nigerian authorities to act swiftly to prevent further bloodshed and ensure that this Holy Week is not marred by more tragedy.”
Mr Smith is the third American lawmaker condemning the Plateau killings after Riley Moore and Ted Cruz.
Frequent attacks and increasing death toll have sparked reactions and public outrage from within and outside the country with many lashing out at President Bola Tinubu’s government for failing to protect lives and property.
Citing Palm Sunday and past attacks recorded in Plateau State in recent times, Amnesty International berated Mr Tinubu for “failing to protect lives.”
“With the death toll from the Palm Sunday attack in central Nigeria surpassing 30 people, the Nigerian authorities must investigate the inexcusable security lapses that enabled the horrific attack by gunmen on motorbikes on Anguwan Rukuba community of Jos North LGA of Plateau State.
“The area, nature of the attack and timing show how increasingly vulnerable people are to being killed anywhere and anytime. More dead bodies are still being found and conveyed to the morgue. Plateau State is increasingly becoming unsafe,” Amnesty International said in a statement on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Mr Tinubu, in a statement by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, decried the attack, assuring citizens that his government was procuring equipment to support security agencies in combating insecurity in the country.
Mr Tinubu announced he would be visiting Plateau State over the incident.
